China's Moon Mission vs NASA's Artemis: The New Space Race of the 21st Century

Overview: A New Lunar Rivalry

The 21st-century space race is heating up again — not between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, but between NASA and China's CNSA. Both nations are aiming to land astronauts on the Moon by the end of the decade. NASA's Artemis Program plans a crewed lunar landing through Artemis III in 2026–2027, while China targets its first crewed Moon landing by 2030 through the Mengzhou and Long March 10 systems.

NASA's Artemis Program: Returning to the Moon

NASA's Artemis Program is designed to return humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The Artemis architecture involves the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System (HLS). Artemis I, an uncrewed test, was completed successfully in 2022. Artemis II will fly astronauts around the Moon, and Artemis III aims to land them on the lunar south pole.

• SLS + Orion launch — Astronauts lifted into orbit aboard Orion capsule by the Space Launch System (SLS).
• Starship HLS pre-positioned in lunar orbit (NRHO).
• Orion docks with HLS in orbit, astronauts transfer to HLS for lunar descent.
• Two astronauts land on the Moon's south pole, stay several days conducting experiments.
• HLS ascends back to Orion, and the crew returns to Earth.

China's 2030 Lunar Mission: The Mengzhou + Long March 10 System

China's space agency, CNSA, plans to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030 as part of its rapidly growing space program. The mission will use the new Long March 10 heavy-lift rocket and the Mengzhou spacecraft for crew transport. A separate lunar lander, Lanyue, will handle descent and ascent operations. The mission plan involves two launches: one to send the lander to lunar orbit and another to send the crewed spacecraft for rendezvous and docking before descent.

• Launch 1: Long March 10 sends the Lanyue lunar lander to orbit around the Moon.
• Launch 2: Another Long March 10 carries the crew aboard the Mengzhou spacecraft.
• Docking in lunar orbit between Mengzhou and Lanyue.
• Two astronauts transfer to Lanyue and descend to the lunar surface for exploration.
• After the mission, they ascend back to orbit, dock again, and return to Earth.

Spacecraft Comparison: Orion vs Mengzhou

NASA's Orion spacecraft is designed for deep-space missions beyond low Earth orbit. It can carry up to four astronauts and has advanced life support, radiation protection, and navigation systems. Meanwhile, China's Mengzhou spacecraft follows a similar three-module design (crew, service, and reentry module) but is optimized for both lunar orbit and potential Mars missions.

• Orion Crew Capacity: 4 astronauts.
• Orion Launch Vehicle: SLS.
• Mengzhou Crew Capacity: 3 astronauts.
• Mengzhou Launch Vehicle: Long March 10.
• Orion Return Module: Advanced Avcoat heat shield.
• Mengzhou Return Module: Modular reentry capsule with reusable design.

Rocket Comparison: SLS vs Long March 10 vs Starship

The Space Launch System (SLS) is NASA's most powerful rocket ever built, capable of delivering 95 tons to low Earth orbit in its Block 1 configuration. China's Long March 10, still in development, is expected to deliver about 70 tons to LEO. SpaceX's Starship, used as the Artemis Human Landing System, outclasses both with over 150 tons to LEO when fully reusable.

• SLS Height: 98 m | Payload to LEO: 95 tons.
• Long March 10 Height: 92 m | Payload to LEO: 70 tons.
• Starship Height: 120 m | Payload to LEO: 150+ tons (reusable).

Mission Objectives

• NASA: Establish sustainable lunar presence via Artemis Base Camp.
• CNSA: Build the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) with Russia.
• Both: Test new life support systems, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and long-term lunar habitation.

Conclusion: The Future of Lunar Exploration

As NASA and China push forward, the world watches a new lunar rivalry unfold. Both nations aim not only to land astronauts but to establish long-term human presence on the Moon. Whether it's the Artemis Base Camp or China's ILRS, this competition could redefine international space policy, technology, and humanity's next step beyond Earth.