China’s civilian space program is actually a military program, NASA chief says

“China has made tremendous progress, especially in the last 10 years, but it’s very, very secretive,” Bill Nelson told the House Appropriations Committee in Washington.

“We believe that most of what they call their civilian space program is actually a military program,” he said.

“I would like China, the Chinese space program, to come to its senses and understand that civilian space is made for peaceful use. But we haven’t seen China demonstrate that,” he added.

According to him, the United States is now involved in a “race” with Beijing.

He emphasized that the United States must succeed in landing on the moon before the Chinese. He said he was “concerned” that China would “get there first and suddenly say this is our territory”.

The United States plans to land astronauts on the moon in 2026 with its Artemis 3 mission, China also plans to send humans there by 2030.

Bill Nelson was heard by US elected officials during the annual budget request for the US space agency.

When asked by one of them about the consequences of the United States potentially losing its leadership in space to China, he confirmed that this should not happen, warning: “But we have to be realistic. China is investing a lot of money in this.”

And added: “I really don’t think we should let our guard down.”