U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, has raised concerns about the United States potentially losing its leadership in space exploration to China. During a recent hearing, Cantwell and several experts discussed the strategic importance of returning to the moon ahead of other nations.
“Beating China back to the moon isn't just about bragging rights, and it's certainly not just about grabbing headlines,” said Sen. Cantwell. She referenced a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an example of how space is becoming central to international security discussions. “The strategic value of maintaining our position to live and work in space is critical. It's critical to our future economic and national security. All you have to do is look back to the 1960s and look at the development of technologies that created an ecosystem within the United States of America that led to discoveries and innovations that we're still now counting on today.”
Cantwell questioned witnesses including Jim Bridenstine, former NASA Administrator; Lieutenant General John Shaw, former Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command; Allen Cutler from the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration; and Michael Gold from Redwire.
She highlighted Lt. Gen. Shaw’s testimony: “I believe if we do not unify and synchronize our efforts, we will find ourselves rather than the space leaders we are today, instead in a position of increasing disadvantage in space as we progress further into this century.” Cantwell added her concern about ensuring effective commercial partnerships for NASA.
Bridenstine stressed continuity across administrations: “NASA can only succeed when we look across multiple presidential administrations, span many Congresses, and carry out programs through ebbs and flows of public support. NASA Authorizations are key tools that provide the continuity necessary to accomplish big things.”
Gold pointed out Congressional backing was crucial during negotiations with European partners: “So how did I convince the Europeans... Senator Cantwell, I had your help... And if we cannot show that we can be a good partner... all the benefits that we talked about diplomatically, economically, will go to others.”
Cantwell noted specific lunar regions are strategically important: “And getting there in a timely fashion to claim those resources or claim that space seems to be just as critical as [President] Jefferson's decision to get us all the way out to the Pacific?” Gold responded by emphasizing urgency: “Senator... The moon is a large place, but... locations that have... water-ice [and] sunlight... are actually relatively limited, and we could lose those to the Chinese if we don't move quickly.... The countries that get there first will write the rules.... We've had tremendous success with the Artemis Accords -- 56 countries have signed.... But if we're not first,... those numbers will change.”
Cantwell also addressed concerns over communications security related to cislunar operations: “Well, I'm definitely very concerned about our communication security writ large,” she said before asking Lt. Gen. Shaw about military implications.
Lt. Gen. Shaw replied: “That is absolutely correct.... China sent seven payloads to the moon last year; six... were communications focused.... They were communications focused, [the] building blocks of a communications architecture.” He added any capability developed for science or economics could also serve national security purposes.
In closing remarks Cantwell stated: “I don't know that it takes a genius to figure out that while China may be projecting 2030,... there's nothing to say they won't go sooner.... So we don't need another Sputnik moment.... The only thing we have to do is make sure we in Congress get the budget right and support the Artemis mission.”
Senator Cantwell has played a role in advancing legislation supporting American leadership in space exploration such as introducing bipartisan measures like the NASA Transition Authorization Act alongside Senator Cruz earlier this year aimed at setting priorities for NASA programs and preventing U.S. decline relative to global competitors like China.
In 2022 she helped pass major federal research investments through legislation such as The CHIPS and Science Act which included new authorizations for NASA’s Artemis missions.
A transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s opening remarks is HERE and a transcript of her Q&A is available HERE. Video of her opening remarks is HERE and video of her Q&A is HERE.
