The race to return to the Moon is intensifying, with the United States and China both setting ambitious timelines for lunar missions. Following President Trump’s renewed push for crewed missions with the Artemis program, the U.S.is aiming for a 2028 return, while China is targeting a crewed landing by 2030 and potential lunar base construction as early as 2028. This renewed interest isn’t solely about national prestige; both nations are eyeing the Moon’s potential economic and strategic value, leading to concerns over resource control and even the potential militarization of space.
In December, President Donald Trump signed a presidential decree – his 223rd since returning to power – outlining two primary goals: to return Americans to the Moon by 2028 as part of the Artemis program, and to establish the initial components of a permanent lunar base by 2030 “to ensure a sustainable American presence in space and enable the next steps of Mars exploration.”
The United States has been attempting to return to the Moon for half a century, following the success of the last crewed lunar mission, Apollo 17, in 1972. This renewed push represents a significant investment in space exploration and a strategic effort to maintain a leading role in the field.
- Trump initially launched the Artemis mission in December 2017, during his first year in office.
- In the spring of 2019, then-Vice President Mike Pence announced that “the first woman and the next man to walk on the Moon will be American astronauts, launched by American rockets, from American soil.”
- To the surprise of scientists present, Pence used the occasion to announce that the first crewed lunar mission of the 21st century would take place as early as 2024, giving U.S. agencies five years to prepare.
- The Republican administration was then confident of winning the 2020 presidential election, which would have allowed Donald Trump to claim success of the mission during his second term.
Far from the rapid success initially envisioned, the Artemis mission has faced delays. The project has experienced budget overruns, subcontractors have missed deadlines, and NASA has encountered significant technical challenges. Upon his return to power, Trump pushed 4,000 agency employees (approximately 20%) to resign or accept early retirement packages, while also proposing a nearly 24% reduction in its budget.
- NASA, however, aims to launch the first crewed flight of the project, dubbed Artemis II, on February 6th, sending four astronauts (three Americans and one Canadian) around the Moon before returning to Earth.
- Currently, the goal is to prepare for a lunar landing with the Artemis III astronauts in 2027 or 2028, consistent with the deadline set by the White House.
While Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who served as acting NASA administrator from July to December 2025, expressed doubts about the feasibility of this timeline, his successor, billionaire and Elon Musk associate Jared Isaacman, stated during his Senate hearing in April: “I want nothing more than to see Artemis II go around the Moon and, once again, see Americans walk on the Moon […] We can chart a course to Mars, consistent with the President’s vision of returning to the Moon before the Chinese do.”
- The 2028 deadline is particularly important for Trump as it would mark the final year of his second – and, at least according to the Constitution, final – term.
Between 2007 and 2024, China launched six Chang’e missions to the Moon, including two orbiters to map and photograph the lunar surface; two landers to demonstrate the feasibility of landings and deploy lunar vehicles; and two spacecraft that successfully brought back samples – including from the far side of the Moon, a first in space history.
- In 2023, Beijing set a goal of sending a crew to the Moon by 2030 and launching the construction of a lunar base as early as 2028.
- Chinese authorities primarily view space exploration as an economic opportunity. In 2019, Bao Weimin, a senior official at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), revealed that Beijing was considering the creation of the first Earth-Moon economic zone.
- This project, which does not currently appear to be an official government policy, could generate $10 trillion in resources extracted from the Moon by 2050.
Former NASA administrator under Trump, Jim Bridenstine, who held the position during his first term, believes “unless there is a change, it is very unlikely that the United States will beat China’s projected timeline for reaching the lunar surface.”
In the United States, the primary concern is that a Chinese victory in the race to the Moon could lead to the appropriation of its resources.
- The Moon is seen by some within the Republican administration as a space suitable for eventually hosting offensive military capabilities and providing early warning in the event of attacks.
- In its Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation recommended “reversing the defensive posture of the Biden administration” and investing in offensive capabilities to deter strikes against its “space assets.”
- Ultimately, space and the lunar surface could be expected to host military infrastructure, nuclear reactors, and mining activities.
