NASA Chases China to the Moon: The Gap Is Months, Not Years
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- Administrator NASA Jared Isaacman menegaskan AS harus mendaratkan astronot di Bulan pada 2028, sementara China menargetkan 2029.
- Persaingan antariksa AS-China tidak hanya soal prestise, tetapi juga perebutan sumber daya di Kutub Selatan Bulan.
- Ambisi luar angkasa berdampak pada Indonesia, mulai dari pengembangan teknologi hingga posisi geopolitik di kawasan Indo-Pasifik.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the United States must meet its 2028 schedule for landing astronauts on the Moon to beat China, which is targeting 2029. In an interview with NewsNation, he stressed that the time gap between the two countries is now measured in months, not years, making the competition extremely tight.
Isaacman said China is a serious rival in space exploration. "They intend to put astronauts on the surface of the Moon in 2029. We want to do it in 2028. So no matter what, it's months, not years. That's too close," he said.
The statement came as Chinese President Xi Jinping made a three-day visit to Washington, D.C., seen as an effort by the Trump administration to stabilize U.S.-China relations. Yet behind the diplomatic cordiality, economic and technological rivalry between the two countries remains heated.
According to Isaacman, a U.S. success in landing astronauts first would be a major symbolic victory. He recalled the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which made rivals think twice before challenging American interests. "The reverse is also true," he added, referring to the psychological impact if China reaches the Moon first.
Beyond the Moon, Isaacman also touched on the issue of UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) documented in government videos. He tends to view them as natural phenomena or secret technology, not alien visits. NASA is involved in the Trump administration's push for greater transparency on UFOs. "Our job is to answer the question, 'Are we alone?' If it's aliens, NASA should have a role. If it's a Sputnik moment, we succeeded before," he said.
Asked about the possibility of data centers in space, Isaacman said the prevalence of low-orbit models would depend on economics. "Your data center will eventually burn up and come back to Earth, and then the replacement cost—does that make sense? I think it will. Maybe not in the first few years, but over time it will be achieved," he explained. Currently, communities in the U.S. are increasingly rejecting the construction of data centers for AI because of their large energy and water needs.
Indonesian Context: The U.S.-China space rivalry has direct implications for Indonesia. As an archipelagic country with vast maritime territory, Indonesia can leverage satellite technology for maritime surveillance, disaster mitigation, and telecommunications. However, dependence on foreign technology—whether from the U.S. or China—poses geopolitical risks. Indonesia needs to strengthen its space technology self-reliance through LAPAN (now BRIN) and promote equitable international cooperation. In addition, Indonesia's position in the Indo-Pacific makes it a key player in regional stability, so the dynamics of U.S.-China rivalry must be met with smart and sovereign space policy.
Going forward, the question is not only who sets foot on the Moon first, but how other countries, including Indonesia, can use this momentum to accelerate technology transfer and strengthen their position on the global stage. Will Indonesia be a spectator or take part in the race to the stars?
