China and the US are trying two very different approaches to space exploration. The US has placed its bets on the private sector leading the way. That has to happen eventually with the space economy, but is it ready to take the lead this early? SpaceX talks big, but it has a formidable list of hurdles to achieve before being capable of regular crewed lunar landings.
Meanwhile, China is sticking with the familiar state-led approach, where the government shepherds and supports the private sector. They’ve been remarkably consistent with announcing future plans with dates and schedules, and methodically achieving them.
China’s space ambitions rarely get examined in Western media, but they’re very ambitious. It’s their stated goal to be a pre-eminent space power. Not only that, they make no secret of the details of their plan; they spell it all out. Here’s another piece of those plans falling into place. The first part of their deep space communications network, and the first part of the lunar base-Earth communication system.
SpaceX is prepping to send people to Mars and China is gloating about putting a satellite around the moon
Surely they must be doing something right/wrong
SpaceX talk big, but they’re no so great with achieving measurable objectives. They’re already behind schedule with even successfully getting Starship off Earth, less mind getting it to the lunar surface and successfully back from there.
Not saying they won’t do it eventually, but its hard to have confidence in their blowhard claims.
I’m sorry, but you seem creepily invested
For what it’s worth, SpaceX has put their Starship in orbit last week, something the Chinese equivalent isn’t scheduled to do in another 10 years… So I don’t know see how you come to the conclusion that the Chinese state approach is so much better when it’s so far behind, especially considering all the means at their disposal.
I can’t wait for the new forms of censorship and punishment.
Is this a realistic goal?
