This article only obliquely mentions in the last paragraphs, but there's a parallel Chinese program that recently brought back samples from the moon, and will attempt Mars sample return, launching in 2028,
Anyone wanting to be involved in the future of scientific research should probably start learning Mandarin. We're going the way of the Soviets, where political officers will quash any science that doesn't fit their ideology.
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/09/trump-planning-to-hand-veto-power-over-nih-grants-to-political-appointee/" rel="nofollow">https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/09/trump-planning-to-ha...
I think the defining moment is that IF China gets man back to the moon before the US, that will be the moment when it becomes too hard to ignore. That is the new political high ground.
The Chang’e missions plan for this in 2030 and they have hit every target to date. While the US is currently targeting 2028, it isn't inconceivable that it can slip by two years.
"Congratulations to China! They were the second nation to land on the Moon, just a few decades after the greatest nation in history landed there first, the United States of America.
We are not in a hurry now, because we already won that race many decades ago!
The Fake News Media is reporting that NASA completely lost the Moon race to China. A total disaster! Under my Administration, Space Force is winning BIG. Now, Beijing is supposedly up there doing who knows what. Fake flags, very low quality! The moon is ours, and Mars too (which the Moon is part of!). MAKE AMERICA SPACE AGAIN!
peri-cl · · focus · HN ↗
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianwen-3" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianwen-3
notabee · · focus · HN ↗
FlowingRiver · · focus · HN ↗
The Chang’e missions plan for this in 2030 and they have hit every target to date. While the US is currently targeting 2028, it isn't inconceivable that it can slip by two years.
lossolo · · focus · HN ↗
We are not in a hurry now, because we already won that race many decades ago!
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
President Donald J. TRUMP"
FlowingRiver · · focus · HN ↗
President Donald J Trump