Who will be the first to build a space station near the Moon, and who will build structures near the South Pole of the Moon many years later? Until a while ago, it seemed that the answer was the US, but, especially because of the delays with the Artemis missions, China looks like a candidate to win the new space race.

It is clear that NASA’s Artemis 3 mission, which aims to return humans to the moon after more than 50 years, is unlikely to happen before the end of 2025, but if the Stasrhip rocket delays continue, perhaps even in 2026 the Americans will not be alienated (for the first time since 1972 year).

• How China wants to build buildings on the moon

These fears were clearly expressed by top US officials, with the main fear being that Chinese PR could hold a series of space premieres in the lunar zone, meaning the rules would be dictated by the Chinese. The big fear is that Chinese PR people will not become the number 1 space power, dethroning the US.

The Washington Post published an article titled “Will China Beat the US Back to the Moon?” It’s possible,” which suggested NASA would face more technical problems and delays, while the Chinese planned a series of missions that could outpace the U.S.

• Why China has big plans for the moon

Today’s space race is significantly different from that of 55 years ago: it is no longer about planting a flag on the moon, but about building a space station near the moon and building small bases in the region of the South Pole of the moon, where frozen water is also found. Such bases can be built somewhere between 2030 and 2035, there are detailed technical plans for them, technical methods of their creation are being tested.

For example, the Chinese Chang’e 8 mission, which will launch no earlier than 2028, will investigate the mineral composition of the lunar soil and try to give a verdict on the question: can a super 3D printer build a lunar base? It should not be forgotten that the Chinese government has a complex lunar exploration program and wants to test the structure of “bricks” from the lunar soil, and then build the structures on the surface of the moon with the help of 3D printers and robots.

• In the coming years, China will double the area of ​​its space station by sending three more modules into orbit

There is a big difference in communication and vision between the US and China. The US promotes interstate cooperation in space exploration, and 31 countries have signed the Artemis agreements, while China is opaque in its communications and often does not even live-stream major launches. Obviously there have been delays in China’s space program as well, and there will be more, even if we don’t hear about them very often.

The countries that signed the Artemis agreement undertake that if they will explore the moon, they will report exactly what scientific research they are conducting and in which areas they are conducting it.

The fear is that if Chinese PR succeeds in building a base in the south pole area of ​​the moon before the US, they will be able to establish a no-go zone around that location, an area where no one else is allowed to be stationed.

What are the missions in China’s calendar?

– Chang’e 6 will attempt to deliver soil and rock samples from the far side of the Moon to Earth

– Chang’e 7 will be a complex mission to the region of the south pole of the Moon, and several vehicles will be sent: an orbital probe, a lander, a rover, a communication satellite and a detector that will be able to study the ice in lunar craters.

– Chang’e 8 should be launched by 2030 and test on the moon technologies such as 3D printing as well as others to use local resources.