Overview

• Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told senators it is “highly unlikely” the U.S. will land astronauts on the Moon before China.
• Witnesses argued NASA’s Starship-based Human Landing System hinges on many coordinated tanker launches and unproven in‑orbit cryogenic refueling, raising delay risks for Artemis.
• China has advanced its timeline with an integrated Lanyue lander test, a crew capsule abort test, and a Long March 10 static fire as it targets a crewed landing by 2030.
• Congress has moved to fund SLS, Orion, and the Gateway station despite a proposed White House cut to NASA’s budget, with experts warning that canceling Gateway could drive partners toward China.
• Acting administrator Sean Duffy rejected the bleak assessments, declaring “I’ll be damned” if the U.S. does not beat China and tasking Kshatriya to lead Moon‑to‑Mars execution.