China dismissed as an irresponsible slander a warning from NASA’s chief that China may “take over” the moon as part of a military agenda, saying it has always advocated for the formation of a community of states in outer space.
In the last decade, China has accelerated its space programme, with a focus on moon exploration. China conducted its first unmanned lunar landing in 2013 and plans to launch rockets strong enough to carry astronauts to the moon by the end of the decade
“We must be concerned that China is landing on the moon and announcing, ‘It’s ours now, keep out,'” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in an interview published Saturday in the German daily Bild.
According to the head of the United States space agency, China’s space programme is military in nature, and China has stolen ideas and technology from others.
The United States has consistently waged a smear campaign against China’s normal and rational outer space activities, and China strongly rejects such irresponsible remarks.”
According to him, China has consistently advocated for the development of a shared future for humanity in outer space while opposing its weaponization and any space arms race.
NASA’s Artemis programme intends to launch an astronauts mission to orbit the moon in 2024, followed by a crewed climbing down the lunar south pole in 2025.
