Artemis vs Chang Zheng 9... US and China Engage in 'Silent War' Over the Moon [Reading Science]

Artemis 1 Mission Launches in the US on the 29th Morning (Local Time)
Unmanned Lunar Orbital Flight to Test Performance Before Manned Exploration
China Counters with Next-Generation Super Heavy Launcher Changzheng-9
Plans for Manned Lunar Landing Attempt Within 10 Years
"Impatient US, We Are Technically Better Prepared," Promises to Overtake

On the morning of the 29th (local time), NASA's Artemis-1 mission launch vehicle SLS, carrying the Orion crew capsule, is positioned on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "I want to go first." The international competition to claim the Moon, humanity's forward base for space exploration, is fierce. Especially as the United States, the strongest space development country, has stepped forward to recreate the glory of the Apollo project after more than 50 years, China, which declared a 'space rise' to replace Russia amid economic difficulties, is launching an all-out battle challenging the U.S.

The U.S. is one step ahead. NASA began the countdown for the Artemis-1 mission, the first step to resume manned lunar exploration, at 10:23 a.m. Eastern Time on the 27th. The Artemis-1 mission is scheduled to launch around 8:33 a.m. on the 29th (9:33 p.m. KST on the 29th). NASA has mostly completed launch preparations and is conducting final checks, confident of success. Mike Sarafin, NASA Artemis mission manager, said, "I think overall preparations for the Monday (29th) launch are well underway," adding, "There have been no issues that could hinder the launch, and while technical factors and weather are critical, we are fully prepared."

However, NASA engineers remain tense due to the failure experienced during the propellant loading test conducted in June. At that time, NASA conducted a second Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) by loading fuel and propellant into the SLS, but a hydrogen leak occurred. NASA ignored this issue for the time being and completed a test countdown up to 29 seconds before launch with the supercooled liquid hydrogen fully loaded. NASA has set a backup launch window from July 2 to 5 in case the launch is delayed due to technical issues or bad weather.

The Artemis-1 mission involves loading a manned spacecraft made by the private company Orion onto the super heavy-lift launch vehicle SLS, sending it into lunar orbit, and then returning it to Earth. However, this time, a dummy will be onboard instead of a person. The SLS is a massive rocket standing 98.1 meters tall, equivalent to a 32-story building. Although shorter than the Saturn V (111 meters) that sent Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, its maximum thrust is 8.8 million pounds, 15% stronger.

If this test succeeds, NASA plans to conduct the Artemis-2 mission in 2024, which will carry humans to lunar orbit and back for a final test. In 2025, the Artemis-3 mission aims to land the first woman and person of color on the Moon.

Through the Artemis Accords signed with about ten countries including South Korea, the U.S. plans to build a long-term station traveling between the Moon and Earth, called the Lunar Gateway, which will replace the existing International Space Station. They also intend to develop water and various resources on the Moon to establish a base that will serve as a forward outpost for deep space exploration and colonization, including Mars.

Concept model of China's next-generation launch vehicle, Changzheng 9.

In response, China, which declared a 'space rise,' has thrown down the gauntlet. China is actively developing a super heavy-lift launch vehicle comparable to the U.S. SLS for manned lunar landing exploration before 2030. Known as the Changzheng 9 (Long March 9), its unofficial designation is CZ5DY, where DY stands for Dengyue, meaning "to ascend the Moon" in Chinese. The Changzheng 9 launch vehicle is an upgraded model of the large Changzheng 5 rocket, which has demonstrated high reliability through China's independent space station construction, Mars probe launch, and lunar sample return missions. It can carry an impressive 140 tons of cargo to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

China expects that launching two Changzheng 9 rockets simultaneously will enable sending a lander and astronauts capable of conducting about six hours of manned lunar exploration. China plans to first develop a two-stage version and conduct test launches by 2026, and within ten years, develop a three-stage version capable of transporting 27 tons of cargo to the Moon.

In this context, China's state-run foreign propaganda outlet, Global Times, attracted attention on the 21st by publishing an article comparing the U.S. lunar exploration resumption and China's plans. The outlet self-praised, stating, "While NASA is working hard to recreate the glory of the Apollo project, China is focusing on innovative plans to independently execute manned lunar exploration." It criticized NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's recent remark that "China will occupy the Moon," arguing, "Although the U.S. has set a specific year as a deadline, we are moving forward more steadily and surely, focusing on technical preparations."

The outlet particularly quoted Wang Yanan, editor-in-chief of an aerospace magazine based in Beijing, saying, "China's manned lunar landing aligns more with scientific principles," and criticized, "NASA is under enormous pressure to maintain international leadership in lunar exploration and is becoming more hostile toward China in the space domain."