Calls for the United States to return astronauts to the moon by the late 2020s have grown louder, with support from members of both parties and science advocates. But NASA’s reliance on SpaceX’s Starship rocket has raised serious doubts about whether the ambitious goal is realistic.
The Starship system, central to NASA’s Artemis III mission, remains in a developmental stage plagued by technical failures. Multiple prototypes have exploded or failed during tests — a troubling sign for a spacecraft tasked with carrying humans to the lunar surface. spacedaily.com Space
Meanwhile, China is making advanced strides in its lunar program, positioning itself as a serious rival in the new space race. Experts warn that China could land astronauts on the Moon in the next five years, raising the stakes for U.S. space leadership. Space
One of the biggest challenges for NASA and SpaceX is refuelling Starship in orbit — a method never successfully attempted at this scale. NASA engineers estimate that 10 to 40 tanker flights may be needed to fuel a lunar-bound Starship, a logistical and technical hurdle of unprecedented complexity. Wikipedia
Critics argue NASA’s current architecture is overly complex and risky. Jim Bridenstine, former NASA Administrator, said the chosen approach “would not be selected if given a choice” due to its many uncertainties. Space
In Congress, tensions are mounting: as Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy vows the U.S will beat China in the moon race, some suggest the agency may be banking its future on unproven technology. Space
As test flights continue and technical hurdles remain, the question looms: Can the U.S. realistically land again on the moon before its competitor? The outcome may decide who sets the rules in deep space for decades.
