China is accelerating its space program with ambitions to surpass the U.S. and establish itself as the dominant power in space by the 2040s, Bloomberg reports.
While NASA is targeting a crewed moon landing by 2028, China aims to put astronauts on the lunar surface by 2030, with longer-term plans for permanent lunar bases, orbital data centers, solar power stations and a crewed Mars mission by midcentury.
China has steadily closed the technological gap with the U.S., completing its own permanent space station in 2022, landing on the moon’s far side in 2019 and reaching Mars in 2021. Its priorities also include reusable rockets, satellite internet networks and missions to collect samples from Mars.
The competition extends beyond scientific achievement to economic influence, national security and geopolitical power. Establishing infrastructure near the moon could give China an early advantage in setting technical standards, securing access to resources like lunar ice and shaping future rules governing space exploration and commerce.
U.S. officials have raised concerns about China’s military capabilities in orbit, including antisatellite weapons and experimental reusable spacecraft that could maneuver around other satellites. Meanwhile, American lunar ambitions depend heavily on SpaceX and Blue Origin, whose spacecraft face significant engineering challenges.
Although SpaceX executives believe the company maintains a technological lead, Chinese companies are making progress on reusable rockets and satellite networks. Beyond prestige, space leadership could create commercial advantages for Chinese businesses by allowing them to export technologies proven in demanding extraterrestrial environments.
