# NASA's Moon race demands better international deals

> The administrator says partnerships must meaningfully advance the mission, not just look good in press releases.
- Title: NASA's Moon race demands better international deals | Shortify
- Summary: The administrator says partnerships must meaningfully advance the mission, not just look good in press releases. NASA is shifting from inclusive partnerships…
- Keywords: nasa, jared isaacman, moon base, lunar south pole, international partnerships, china space program, artemis program, italy space agency, japan space agency, european space agency, blue origin, spacex
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/nasa-chief-im-only-interested-in-good-deals-from-international-partners
- Published: 2026-09-22T11:00:37+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: nasa, jared isaacman, moon base, lunar south pole, international partnerships, china space program, artemis program, italy space agency, japan space agency, european space agency, blue origin, spacex
## Moon's best real estate is contested
The lunar south pole has limited high-value locations with water ice in craters and sunlit ridges for power. Both the US and China want the same spots.
## Water ice enables permanent bases
The south pole's frozen water can supply drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel for a Moon base and Mars missions. It's the training ground America needs.
## China and Russia are moving fast
China plans to land at the same lunar south pole locations with Russian partners and install a nuclear reactor. This creates urgency for NASA.
## Isaacman demands meaningful contributions
NASA's new administrator says the agency will only partner with countries that meaningfully advance missions, not just provide flags for press releases.

> We're only doing good deals, and we haven't always done good deals.
## Italy's 5 billion dollar habitat deal
Italy committed over 5 billion dollars to build the first real habitation module for the Moon. Two Italian astronauts will land as a result.
## Japan's pressurized rover agreement
Japan is spending billions to develop a pressurized rover for lunar transport. Two Japanese astronauts will get Moon landing seats in return.
## Gateway program gets cancelled
NASA scrapped the Gateway mini-space station in March to focus on a permanent lunar surface base. The shift reflects China's aggressive timeline.
## ESA faces uncertain Moon role
The European Space Agency had contracts for Gateway modules but now lacks a clear path to contribute meaningfully to the Moon Base program.
## Canada's robotic arm in limbo
Canada was building a robotic arm for Gateway but now faces uncertainty. A US trade war with Canada adds complications to any new agreements.
## ESA's Argonaut lander too slow
ESA's proposed Argonaut cargo lander would arrive in the mid-2030s, but China lands in early 2027. By then, the best spots will be taken.
## Argonaut duplicates US capabilities
Argonaut's 1.5-ton payload capacity is half of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander and far below SpaceX's Starship. NASA sees it as redundant.
## Speed and substance now matter most
Isaacman says partners must deliver real capabilities quickly or get out of the way. The old model of inclusive partnerships is dead.

> We've got to get in touch with reality and make meaningful contributions.
## Key takeaway

NASA is shifting from inclusive partnerships to selective ones that directly advance lunar goals, as competition with China intensifies.