NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman Declares U.S. in Space Race with China over Moon

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told CBS’s Face the Nation that the United States is “very much in a space race right now” with China, emphasizing the close timing of the two nations’ lunar ambitions. He said the Artemis program aims for a crewed Moon landing by the end of 2028, while China targets a landing in 2029, noting that the gap is “months, not years.” Isaacman added that NASA plans to start building a lunar base in 2027, envisioning a permanent presence similar to the International Space Station by the early 2030s, and sees the Moon as a stepping‑stone for future Mars missions. Chinese officials have denied a competitive race, stressing cooperation and highlighting their partnership with Russia on the International Lunar Research Station, while U.S. law still restricts direct NASA‑CNSA collaboration.