China and USA at WAR: How Chang’e 4 Moon landing is major challenge for NASA

“So we have, for example, NASA spending a huge amount of money on their Space Launch System (SLS) – a new vehicle but an old concept, rather than embracing new technologies.

“Essentially they are recreating the Apollo missions, but they lack the willingness to go the next step and put astronauts on the lunar surface with the space gateway – a concept that does not really have a purpose.

“So if China makes rapid progress in terms of its lunar missions, such as Chang’e 5 and their space station, and ultimately to put Taikonauts on the lunar surface, then this will generate the incentive for NASA to get it together and not get left behind.

“There is a distinct possibility that the next humans on the Moon could either be commercial astronauts or Chinese and I am not sure how NASA could handle that. “

Commercial agents, such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX program and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, are set to play an ever expanding role in space exploration, believes the Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst.