From Mashable · Elisha Sauers · · 1m
China and NASA Moon Landing Plans Compared
China aims for moon landing by 2030 without crewed test flights, while NASA plans crewed missions with robotic rehearsals.
In brief
China aims for moon landing by 2030 without crewed test flights, while NASA plans crewed missions with robotic rehearsals. China's 2030 moon landing plan skips crewed test flights, using robotic rehearsals instead of NASA's Apollo-style crewed test flights. Originally reported by Mashable.
China's Moon Landing Plan
China plans to land people on the moon by 2030.
NASA's Moon Landing Plan
NASA aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2028 with crewed test flights.
China's Approach
China skips crewed lunar test flights, trusting robotic rehearsals for first human landing.
“For any crewed mission, we will try to fly it in an unmanned state first”
NASA's Approach
NASA uses Apollo-style crewed test flights to land astronauts on the moon by 2028.
“It's not entrepreneurial thinking or tech industry pixie dust or some new management philosophy”
Key Missions
China's Mengzhou capsule flies to Earth orbit in 2027, followed by Lanyue lander in 2028.
Next Steps
China's first crewed moon landing will be the one that lands after robotic rehearsals.
The key point
China's 2030 moon landing plan skips crewed test flights, using robotic rehearsals instead of NASA's Apollo-style crewed test flights.
