In a race back to the moon, U.S. and China see a fast-approaching finish line

['Washington Bureau Chief', 'Michael Wilner Is The Washington Bureau Chief For The Los Angeles Times. He Has Spent More Than A Decade Covering The Federal Government With A Focus On The White House. Before Joining The Times', 'Wilner Was Chief Washington Correspondent For Mcclatchy', 'Where His Enterprise', 'International Reporting Was Recognized With Multiple Awards. He Previously Covered Foreign Affairs In Washington', 'Overseas For The Jerusalem Post. Wilner Is A Graduate Of Claremont Mckenna College', 'Columbia University', 'Is A Native Of New York City.'] Los Angeles Times 2025-09-20 00:00:00

Trump’s policy shift has blazed a new American trail in space — and spawned an urgent race with China that is fast approaching the finish line. The world’s first full-scale model of the crewed pressurized lunar rover, to be used in the Artemis moon exploration program, is displayed during a press preview in July. AdvertisementA launch of its Lanyue lander, equipped to carry two taikonauts to the lunar surface, “validated” its landing and takeoff system, state media reported. “We have seen them steadily progress on all of the various pieces that they are going to need,” said Dean Cheng, senior advisor to the China program at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Starship, a super heavy-lift launch vehicle produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is the rocket Trump is relying on to accomplish the Artemis mission.