US vs China; A new space race in the making

 The US vs China; A new space race in the making

NASA vs CNSA

            In the early 50s, the United States was not winning the space race. The Soviets were achieving major milestones in space like the first satellite, the first person to go to space, and many major achievements. Later the US entered the space race by landing the first person on the moon. Both sides achieved major victories until the end of the Space Race in the early 90s when the Soviet union collapsed. The US becomes the only country to dominate in space until China started rapidly increasing its progress. Now a new space race has emerged between the US and China. Let's see how both countries develop their space assets

 Achievements of NASA

            NASA has done a lot of missions in spite of the fact that Russia withdrew from the space race.

            They have launched the International Space Station in 1995. The International Space Station is built in collaboration with 5 space agencies such as NASA, ROSCOSMOS, JAXA, ESA, CSA. The usage of this International Space Station is established by treaties and agreements. 

            Another one of NASA's great achievements is the Hubble Space Telescope. It was launched in 1990. It helps NASA in studying the age of the universe, black holes, and supernovas.

            They have also started a program called the commercial crew program in 2011 where they allow private Industries to play a part in launching astronauts to the International Space Station. This has led to the participation of private players such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.

            NASA started the Artemis program in 2017. By this program, their goal is to establish standard settlements on the moon. They are now totally dedicated to this mission that is to go back to the moon and stay there. This Mission will launch in 2023.

Lunar competition 

            NASA has also sent Rovers to mars in order to know the possibility of life, the perseverance rover landed in 2020. This will analyze the soil to send samples back to earth. This sample return mission is destined to launch in 2026.

            NASA has a budget of 22.6 billion dollars.

What China is doing in comparison to the US?

            CNSA was established in 1958. It has some pretty good achievements in the 21st century. The Chinese launched their first satellite in 1970.

             In 2003 they put an astronaut in space in a Shenzhou 5 spacecraft. This made China the third country apart from the US and Russia to put a man in space. Also in 2011, they launched Tiangong 1 a prototype of a Space Station. In 2016 they launched another Space Station called on Tiangong 2. In 2021 they successfully launched the core module of the Tiangong Space Station. Until now two modules of the Space Station have arrived and three astronauts are staying there.

            There are no reports if the Chinese government has sent a Space Telescope to space.

            China is also working with private companies to make space accessible just like this commercial crew program.

            In contrary to the Artemis program, china has made a collaboration with Russia to set a lunar base camp. Many details of this mission are unknown.

CNSA lunar base

            CNSA has also landed a rover on Mars. It is called the Zhurong Rover. This mission is pretty impressive because it has a Lander, Rover, and Orbiter. And they successfully did this in their first attempt.

Conclusion

            That said, China is rapidly evolving and its achievements in space are really impressive. This could be a major threat to the US because the International Space Station will retire in 2025. And after that, the Chinese Space Station will be the only Space Station in Orbit. The space race is a pretty good one because this might see a rapid increase in innovation. 

            What are your views on this? Tell us in the comments