Recent successful Chang’e-5 mission was the first Lunar regolith sample return mission after a 45 years long break. The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program has already demonstrated successful orbiter, lander, and rover missions. Chinese manned Mars exploration program will, similarly to NASA’s approach, be preceded by Moon landings. Based on 2019 CNSA spokesman PEI Zhaoyu, Mars exploration is a major focus of China’s future deep space exploration. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is less open about its far future plans. In which case Mars human exploration by NASA could happen before the year 2040. Competition with China over 21 st century Moon landings could prompt the USA administration to stick with the original Artemis plans. Biden’s administration recently endorsed the Artemis program although it is yet to be seen to what extent. The truth is, that NASA’s plans usually change after each US presidential election. When asked about the date of the first human mission to Mars, he said “ I am not willing to rule out 2033 at all.”
However, Ex-NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was in 2019 more optimistic. According to the 2019 IDA Science & Technology Policy Institute report, with current funding and program relying on the Space Launch System with Orion capsule, the first human mission to Mars by NASA will most likely start in 2039, but could be delayed even more, depending on the budget profile and political will. NASA is going to Mars through the Moon: To “land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024” is, according to NASA’s Artemis program, a “stepping stone for our next greatest leap-human exploration of Mars”.Įstimates on the exact timing of the first manned Mars mission vary. Let us see who has the best chance to win this “competition”.
State agencies do it for prestige and science, SpaceX to make humans multiplanetary species. The first to do so will be celebrated and remembered as a Christopher Columbus of 21 st century. NASA, China National Space Administration (CNSA), and SpaceX want to put humans on Mars in the next decades. (2021) “The Race to Put the First Humans on Mars”.