In recent years, American politicians have frequently hyped up the Moon Landing Race between the United States and China. They not only strive to complete the first manned lunar landing this century before China does, but also attempt to use the pretext of national security to justify the expansion of Americas military power.
American media have recently noted that the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, an American think tank, released a report last week advocating for the deployment of American troops on the Moon. The report stated that while the United States lunar exploration program faces various obstacles, Chinas lunar exploration efforts are progressing steadily. Therefore, the United States needs to prepare itself for potential conflicts over lunar territory and resource control.
Mitchell Aerospace Research Institute is a non-partisan think tank located in Washington, USA. Its research focuses on aerospace capabilities and national security issues. This report was written by Kyle Pumroy, a retired colonel from the U.S. Space Force. In this report, Pumroy accused China of developing militarized space programs and claimed that Chinas lunar exploration plans pose a threat to U.S. national security.
The report states that the United States lacks coherent goals, policies, and funding, which is hindering the development of its manned space programs and lunar exploration efforts. In contrast, Chinas lunar exploration program is progressing steadily, gradually catching up to the United States. Based on the current trajectory of development, China is likely to gain a strategic advantage in establishing norms, standards, and legal frameworks for lunar settlement and economic development.
Pumroi hypes up Chinas military threats, claiming that Chinas goal of establishing a lunar base is closely related to military interests. He wrote, When territory, potential economic interests, and national interests are intertwined, the public will seek to establish favorable norms and standards, and use varying degrees of hard power to achieve this. Therefore, hard power will play a decisive role in the new space race.
The report uses this as an excuse to promote the idea that the United States should prepare itself for a so-called dispute over lunar territory and resource control. It also advocates that the United States consider deploying military forces on the moon.
On May 26 local time, NASA released a three-phase roadmap for the construction of the American lunar base. Image: IC photo
The Outer Space Treaty, which came into effect in 1967, stipulates that countries must not claim ownership of the Moon and other celestial bodies through sovereignty claims, use or occupation, or any other measures. All contracting parties must use the Moon and other celestial bodies exclusively for peaceful purposes. The establishment of military bases, facilities, and fortifications on these celestial bodies is prohibited.
In this regard, Pumroi stated that the United States should strive to maintain the treaties. However, it also needs to be prepared for such efforts. He said, Whoever can establish a sustainable and defensible infrastructure in low-Earth orbit and on the Moon will have the power to set and enforce rules and standards. The United States must ensure that it gains this power. But this requires a trained, well-organized, and well-equipped space force.
The person is advocating for the militarization of Americas space programs. He proposes that the U.S. Space Force establish a military manned space program authorized by Title 10 of the United States Code, with the goal of countering Chinas space activities. This initiative also aims to establish U.S. standards and regulations for such programs. According to the American technology magazine Gizmodo, Title 10 grants the U.S. Department of Defense the authority to organize, train, and deploy military forces worldwide.
In 2019, the United States established the Space Force, which is responsible for managing space launches, tracking orbiting objects, maintaining global positioning satellites, as well as meteorological and communication satellites. It also focuses on developing capabilities related to space-based warfare.
Pumroi claims that the top priority for the United States is to develop a military manned space program. If China takes the lead in establishing the Space Silk Road, the United States will lose its current influence and relative control in the space domain. Therefore, the United States must take immediate action.
The United States is the only country that has successfully carried out lunar missions involving people. In the 1960s and 1970s, the US conducted several lunar missions. Now, the US has proposed the Artemis program, aiming to return to the moon once again. In November 2022, the US completed the Artemis 1 unmanned lunar orbit mission. In April of this year, the Artemis 2 manned lunar orbit mission was successfully completed.
However, the schedule for subsequent tasks has been adjusted and delayed several times. NASA has announced that the Artemis 3 mission, originally scheduled for 2027, will instead involve testing the system and operational capabilities in near-Earth orbit. The lunar mission has been recheduled as Artemis 4 and Artemis 5, with implementation planned for 2028.
On May 26, NASA released updates on the progress of its lunar base exploration vehicles, landers, and launch missions. It announced that three unmanned lunar landing missions will be carried out later this year, laying the foundation for establishing permanent bases on the moons surface.
China plans to achieve manned lunar missions by 2030. Various development and construction efforts are being carried out in a steady and effective manner.
As of now, the development of major flight products such as the Long March 10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, and the Luna lunar surface lander is progressing smoothly. Major tests have been completed, including the zero-altitude escape of the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, the landing and takeoff of the Luna lander, the launch of the Long March 10 carrier rockets system, as well as low-altitude demonstration tests for the Long March 10 carrier rockets system, and flight tests with maximum dynamic pressure for the Mengzhou manned spacecraft system.
Recently, the Shenzhou 23 manned spacecraft was successfully launched, and three astronauts have now been stationed at the Chinese space station. One of the astronauts on board Shenzhou 23 will conduct a one-year in-orbit mission for the first time. This experiment will help researchers understand the effects of long-term living in a microgravity environment. It is widely believed that this experiment represents a crucial step forward for Chinas efforts toward manned lunar missions.
It is important to return only the English translation. in the response. Do not include any Chinese text in your answer. The Chinese government has repeatedly refuted the claims made by American politicians, who promote the idea of a space race and depict China as a military threat. Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, previously stated that space is not a competition arena for major powers. The Chinese side will continue to work with all parties to create an open circle of friends in space, thereby advancing humanitys common efforts to explore outer space.
