When asked if the U.S. will reach the moon before China, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, "I think we will." (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)RYOSUKE HANAFUSA, Nikkei staff writerDecember 11, 2022 03:21 JST
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WASHINGTON -- As the race between the U.S. and China to reach the moon intensifies, the head of NASA expects U.S. astronauts to land before their Chinese counterparts in 2025 or 2026.
"There are very, very few nations that do not want to be partners with us. China is one. China has always been very secretive," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in an interview with Nikkei, referring to Beijing's stance on developing its own project to send people to the moon. "I think we're in a race with China."
Nelson said he was disappointed at the opaqueness of the Chinese space program, citing an incident last year when most of the world was left guessing where debris from a rocket launch would land.
"The second one we didn't know if it was going to hit Europe or Saudi Arabia. Fortunately, it ended up in the Indian Ocean and China would not let us or anyone know about the trajectory," he said. "We disagree with that position."
"We think that the civilian space program ought to be open and transparent. And that we ought... to help each other out if there's some emergency. China just has not been willing to be open about their space program."
The U.S. is planning a crewed moon probe for the first time since the 1970s. In mid-November, NASA launched its next-generation moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), with an uncrewed Orion capsule, which is expected to return to Earth on Sunday.
While this test was conducted without anyone on board, NASA has picked Space X to develop a vehicle that will allow astronauts to land on the moon in 2025 or later. The program, dubbed Artemis, aims to have astronauts explore Mars, using the moon as a base.
When asked if the U.S. and its partners will beat China to moon, Nelson said, "I think we will." China is aiming to have astronauts reach the moon by 2030.
"I think that's also important because those who returned to the moon first with humans, that will be a significant achievement. And I think China would like to do that," he said.
"If our program is successful, and our commercial lander is successful, I think we will be able to get there... somewhere in 2025, maybe 2026."
NASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion capsule takes off on the unmanned Artemis I mission to the moon at Cape Canaveral, U.S., on Nov. 16. © Reuters
Because the Artemis program requires state-of-the-art technology and carries a hefty price tag -- each rocket launch costs some $4 billion -- it is crucial for the U.S. collaborate with other nations.
"Japan is one of our strongest and most valued partners. And this relationship is a priority for the Biden administration and the Japanese government," Nelson said.
The U.S. and Japan have been negotiating a framework that would allow the countries to cooperate on variety of space projects, including research and sending probes to space. Collaboration is expected to accelerate once the sides agree to the framework.
"We're hoping the signing [of the framework agreement] can be in February when I'm there," he said, mentioning an upcoming Japan trip.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Toyota Motor are working to develop a moon rover that astronauts can drive.
"I'm going to visit that plant that is going to produce this rover so I'll know a lot more once I visit," Nelson said.
The Artemis program includes a plan to build the Gateway space station, which will orbit the moon. There is already an agreement that a Japanese astronaut will be stationed there.
Nelson praised Japanese technology and the role the country has played in supplying equipment for the station, such as life support systems.
He said a Japanese astronaut will land on the moon "once we get to a point of working [the habitable rover] out," without giving a time frame.
As for relations with Russia in space, "the war in Ukraine changed everything on the ground. It's certainly solidified Europe against Russia. But it's not going to change the cooperation on the International Space Station," Nelson said.
Russian Soyuz rockets have carried American astronauts to the International Space Station, but Moscow has been signaling a possibility of withdrawing from the space station.
"That cooperation continues. It is very professional," Nelson said.