00:00Senator Ted Cruz and a bipartisan group of U.S. senators with the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
00:07are warning that the United States could fall behind China in space exploration.
00:12At a hearing Wednesday, they testified that they believe this is happening because NASA keeps delaying its moon missions,
00:18which could allow China to gain an advantage in space exploration.
00:23China has made no secrets of its goals.
00:26It is investing heavily in space capabilities.
00:30Maintaining a permanent presence in low Earth orbit and working to plant its flag on the moon by 2030.
00:40Meanwhile, NASA's Artemis mission is aiming to send U.S. astronauts back to the moon by 2027.
00:46Cruz, chair of the Senate Committee responsible for overseeing NASA, pointed out that China plans to land on the moon by 2030
00:54and may try to control a large area of space about 1,100 miles above Earth, known as low Earth orbit, where many satellites and spacecraft operate.
01:03The stakes could not be higher.
01:05Space is no longer reserved simply for peaceful exploration.
01:11It is today a strategic frontier with direct consequences for national security, economic growth, and technological leadership.
01:21If our adversaries achieve dominant space capabilities, it would pose a profound risk to America.
01:31Cruz made his comments at the same time that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are trying to protect NASA's funding.
01:39President Trump signed the one big beautiful bill into law on July 4th.
01:43And as part of that bill, Cruz succeeded in attaching an amendment giving NASA about $9.9 billion in extra funding on top of its regular 2025 budget.
01:52Now, this extra funding is meant to support important NASA programs such as Artemis, which is the mission to return astronauts to the moon,
02:00along with the space launch system, which is a powerful rocket for deep space missions, and the Orion crew capsule, the spacecraft that will carry astronauts.
02:11Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine testified in front of the committee.
02:15Look at the architecture. It is extraordinarily complex.
02:20In some cases, you know, it hinges on us, me saying here today, that it is highly unlikely that we will land on the moon before China.
02:32Bridenstine said the two biggest obstacles for NASA getting to the moon is, one, the fact that the agency has no landing system for the moon,
02:41and two, a lack of a refueling system for when SpaceX's Starship is in space.
02:46So our astronauts are right now planning to be on the surface of the moon for a period of seven days without any way home.
02:52According to testimony, authorities believe that once China lands on the moon,
02:57the Chinese Communist Party will likely try to quickly take control of parts of the lunar surface.
03:02Now, their goal would be to search for rare earth elements and other valuable resources that could be used to develop new technology.
03:09For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan.
03:11If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com.
03:16For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan.
03:17For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan.
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