China and the United States have identified overlapping potential landing sites at the moon’s south pole as the rivals could compete for limited lunar resources in the years to come.
NASA earlier this month identified 13 potential landing sites for the manned Artemis 3 mission, which is currently scheduled for late 2025 and will mark the first time Americans have set foot on the lunar surface in half a century.
A Chinese journal article on possible landing sites written by Chang’e-4 lunar mission commander Zhang He and others mentions 10 points. Artemis 3 and Chang’e-7 both identify locations near Shackleton, Haworth, and Nobile craters as potential landing zones.
NASA emailed DailyMail.com the following statement: “In exploring the moon, we will abide by what we set out in the Artemis Accords – that we will be transparent about all activity, act in a safe and responsible manner, and avoid it.” harmful interventions.
“Just as the lunar south pole is of scientific interest to NASA, it is also of scientific interest to other nations, so overlap in potential landing regions is to be expected. We want to be as open as possible to the international community, and as a recent example, we have announced 13 candidate landing regions for Artemis III.
“We will continue to share our plans with the world as much as possible and hope other nations will share their plans with us. NASA discusses its lunar exploration plans in various multilateral forums, such as the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), of which China is a member.
China and the United States have identified overlapping potential landing sites (areas circled in red above) at the moon’s south pole, as the rivals could compete for limited lunar resources in the years to come
We promote transparency and peaceful exploration of outer space in accordance with the principles of the Artemis Convention and the Outer Space Treaty.’
Chang’e-7, named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e, will be unmanned and consist of an orbiter, lander, mini-hopping probe and rover and is planned for 2024.
The overlapping spots are in part a result of the higher lunar elevation, good illumination, and proximity to shadowy craters that can trap water ice, according to SpaceNews, which first reported the overlap.
It remains to be seen how the rival nations would deal with potential conflicts over the 2011 Wolf Amendment — which bans NASA from allocating government funds for direct, bilateral cooperation without express authorization from Congress and those associated with the Chinese government and organizations use the FBI.
NASA earlier this month identified 13 potential landing sites for the manned Artemis 3 mission, which is currently scheduled for late 2025 and will mark the first time Americans have set foot on the lunar surface in half a century
The overlapping spots are in part a result of the higher lunar elevation, good illumination, and proximity to shadowy craters that can trap water ice, according to SpaceNews, which first reported the overlap
In 2015, however, the Obama administration began what it called the US-China Civil Space Dialogue, which allowed for a discussion of space issues. this was continued in the Trump administration.
A State Department spokesman told Space Outlet: “The last civil space dialogue between the US and China was in 2017. There are currently no plans for another civil space dialogue. Should a civil space dialogue be convened, the US will announce this in due course.
“We have and will keep lines of communication with Beijing open, including on space security issues.”
Sarah Noble, Artemis Lunar Science Lead for NASA’s Planetary Science Division, said in a previous statement, “Several of the proposed locations within the regions are beneath some of the oldest parts of the Moon and, along with the permanently shadowed regions, offer the possibility of through.” to learn something about the history of the moon from previously unstudied lunar material.’
NASA officials have said they will narrow down their list about 18 months ahead of Artemis 3 so they can prepare for possible landings at each site.
DailyMail.com has reached out to NASA for comment.
There has recently been a war of words between the two countries over space activities.
Last month, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told a German newspaper that China was planning to take over the moon.
“We have to be very concerned that China will land on the moon and say, ‘It’s ours now and you stay out,'” he said.
China was quick to voice its displeasure.
Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said in a statement, “This is not the first time the head of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration has ignored the facts and spoken irresponsibly about China.
“The US side has constantly mounted a smear campaign against China’s normal and reasonable space efforts, and China firmly opposes such irresponsible statements.”
Christopher Newman, Professor of Space Law and Policy at Northumbria University in the UK, told SpaceNews: “This is a real opportunity for cooperation and collaboration between the two giant powers and an opportunity to show all the rhetoric about space exploration more than.” geopolitical in nature.’
“In reality, however, it’s not difficult to understand why they both want the same jobs. It is a prime lunar property for in situ resource use. This could be the first potential conflict point for resources beyond Earth,” he added.
According to a recent article in Beijing’s Global Times, “Space observers also pointed out that China is working on innovative plans to conduct its own manned lunar landing missions while NASA scrambles to relive its Apollo glory.”
NASA officials have said they will narrow down their list about 18 months ahead of Artemis 3 so they can prepare for possible landings at each site
