Bill Nelson, NASA’s Administrator, warns that China is using its civilian space endeavours to further its military capabilities in space
During a recent testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson voiced concerns about China’s secretive advancements in space technology, suggesting that its civilian space program might be a facade for military operations. His comments underscore the growing tensions and competitiveness in space exploration between the United States and China.
“China has made extraordinary strides, especially in the last 10 years, but they are very, very secretive,” Nelson stated, emphasizing the dual-use nature of many Chinese space projects. He expressed worries that Beijing might use its space capabilities to assert territorial claims, particularly on the moon, which could potentially disrupt international norms regarding space exploration.
Nelson highlighted the strategic importance of the moon, noting both nations’ ambitions to establish a presence there. He stressed the importance of the U.S. reaching the moon again before China to prevent any claims of sovereignty that Beijing might assert. “If they get there first, they might very well say, ‘OK, this is our territory, you stay out,'” he remarked, underscoring the stakes involved.
The NASA chief’s comments reflect a broader U.S. government concern about China’s space ambitions, particularly after successful missions such as the deployment of an Earth-orbiting space station and various lunar missions that have included orbiters and sample-return missions.
The United States is not sitting idle, however. With the planned Artemis III mission, NASA aims to return astronauts to the moon by 2026, a significant milestone given the last manned lunar landing occurred over half a century ago. Meanwhile, China has set its sights on sending humans to the moon by 2030.
Nelson remains optimistic about America’s leadership in space but cautioned against complacency. “China has really thrown a lot of money at it, and they’ve got a lot of room in their budget to grow,” he said, highlighting the competitive challenge posed by China’s substantial investment in its space program.
As the space race intensifies, Nelson’s warnings serve as a call to action for the U.S. to bolster its space exploration efforts and maintain vigilance to safeguard its interests and leadership in space.
