US Space Nominee Pledges to Beat China in Moon Return
Part of composite article War, Oil, and a Planet in Flames: How a Militarized Global System Is Crushing the World’s Most Vulnerable View full article →
President Donald Trump's choice to lead NASA has vowed to return Americans to the moon before China. He promised a sustained lunar presence to cement U.S. leadership in space.
The nominee made the statement Wednesday during his Senate confirmation hearing. He framed the effort as a renewed space race, urging accelerated U.S. efforts.
The urgency reflects broader concerns in Washington about competition with Beijing. U.S. officials increasingly view China as a strategic rival in space and on Earth.