The New Space Race | SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js" lang="en"> <head>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-139415608-4"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-139415608-4'); </script>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-NKW27JL');</script>  <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>The New Space Race | SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica</title> <meta name="title" content="The New Space Race | SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica"> <meta name="description" content="" /> <meta name="author" content="" /> <meta name="Copyright" content="Copyright © SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica 2025. All Rights Reserved."> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="manifest" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/site.webmanifest"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#024565"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/favicon.ico"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="Britannica"> <meta name="application-name" content="Britannica"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#da532c"> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_fav/browserconfig.xml"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <link rel="profile" href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11" /> <link rel="pingback" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/xmlrpc.php" /> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />  <link rel="canonical" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="The New Space Race | SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The new space race isn't between a couple of countries but among several players, particularly the fast-growing economies of China, India, and Japan." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2019-08-16T20:57:58+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2019-08-30T20:13:16+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="3000" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1175" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="egregersen" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="egregersen" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="4 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/","url":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/","name":"The New Space Race | SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg","datePublished":"2019-08-16T20:57:58+00:00","dateModified":"2019-08-30T20:13:16+00:00","author":{"@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#/schema/person/e63ca5e00c8182108ddcaa2f98032453"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/#primaryimage","url":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg","width":3000,"height":1175,"caption":"SRIHARIKOTA, India – The Indian Space Research Organization, or ISRO, launches its robotic Chandrayaan-1 rocket with two NASA instruments aboard on India's maiden moon voyage to map the lunar surface. The Moon Mineralogy Mapper will assess mineral resources, and the Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar, or Mini-SAR, will map the polar regions and look for ice deposits. Data from the two instruments will contribute to NASA's increased understanding of the lunar environment as it implements the nation's space exploration policy, which calls for robotic and human missions to the moon. In addition to the two science instruments, NASA will provide space communications support to Chandrayaan-1. The primary location for the NASA ground tracking station will be at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. Photo credit: NASA"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#website","url":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/","name":"SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#/schema/person/e63ca5e00c8182108ddcaa2f98032453","name":"egregersen","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/#/schema/person/image/","url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d59989b62e114b2624318a59bc368649?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d59989b62e114b2624318a59bc368649?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"egregersen"},"url":"https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/author/egregersen/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//static.addtoany.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.0.8' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ugb-style-css-v2-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/stackable-ultimate-gutenberg-blocks/dist/deprecated/frontend_blocks_deprecated_v2.css?ver=3.6.0' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='ugb-style-css-v2-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root { --content-width: 900px; } </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> body{--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #FFFFFF;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--color--purple: #626EAE;--wp--preset--color--blue: #539BD1;--wp--preset--color--navy: #024565;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-purple-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red: url('#wp-duotone-blue-red');--wp--preset--duotone--midnight: url('#wp-duotone-midnight');--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green: url('#wp-duotone-purple-green');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange: url('#wp-duotone-blue-orange');--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ebex-fonts-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,300;0,500;0,700;1,300;1,500;1,700&subset=latin' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='base-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/base.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mmenu-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/jquery.mmenu.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mmenu-position-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/jquery.mmenu.positioning.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mmenu-themes-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/jquery.mmenu.themes.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='nav-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/nav.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='slick-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/slick.css?ver=1.8.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='style-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/custom.css?ver=1.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='color-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_css/colors.css?ver=1.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='addtoany-css' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/addtoany.min.css?ver=1.16' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type='text/javascript' id='ugb-block-frontend-js-v2-js-extra'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var stackable = {"restUrl":"https:\/\/explore.britannica.com\/explore\/space\/wp-json\/"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/stackable-ultimate-gutenberg-blocks/dist/deprecated/frontend_blocks_deprecated_v2.js?ver=3.6.0' id='ugb-block-frontend-js-v2-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' id='addtoany-core-js-before'> window.a2a_config=window.a2a_config||{};a2a_config.callbacks=[];a2a_config.overlays=[];a2a_config.templates={}; a2a_config.icon_color="transparent"; </script> <script type='text/javascript' async src='https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js' id='addtoany-core-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.6.0' id='jquery-core-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.3.2' id='jquery-migrate-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' async src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/addtoany.min.js?ver=1.1' id='addtoany-jquery-js'></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" type="application/json" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/5008" /><link rel='shortlink' href='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/?p=5008' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2Fthe-new-space-race%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2Fthe-new-space-race%2F&format=xml" /> <script id="ns_script_dc" data-key="12ca4747-8e80-4a36-b550-dc239c18b954" data-e="5" src="//includemodal.global.ssl.fastly.net/sp.js" type="text/javascript" async></script> <script async src="//js-sec.indexww.com/ht/htw-britannica.js"></script> <script async='async' src='https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'></script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script><script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapTOP = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([800, 600], [728, 90]).addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); var mapBOT = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([800, 600], [728, 90]).addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240116728-0').setTargeting('POS', ['72890TOP']).defineSizeMapping(mapTOP).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240158767-0').setTargeting('POS', ['72890BOT']).defineSizeMapping(mapBOT).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240229751-0').setTargeting('POS', ['32050MTOP']).defineSizeMapping(mapTOP).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1559240254403-0').setTargeting('POS', ['32050MBOT']).defineSizeMapping(mapBOT).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableAsyncRendering(); googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ fetchMarginPercent: 300, renderMarginPercent: 100, mobileScaling: 2.0 }); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Amazon a9"> var a9Slots = []; !function(a9,a,p,s,t,A,g){if(a[a9])return;function q(c,r){a[a9]._Q.push([c,r])}a[a9]={init:function(){q("i",arguments)},fetchBids:function(){q("f",arguments)},setDisplayBids:function(){},targetingKeys:function(){return[]},_Q:[]};A=p.createElement(s);A.async=!0;A.src=t;g=p.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];g.parentNode.insertBefore(A,g)}("apstag",window,document,"script","//c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"); apstag.init({pubID: '3022', adServer: 'googletag', bidTimeout: 2e3}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240116728-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article/72890TOP', sizes: [ 728, 90 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240158767-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article/72890BOT', sizes: [ 728 ,90 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240229751-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article/32050MTOP', sizes: [ 320 ,50 ]}); a9Slots.push({slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-1559240254403-0', slotName: '/15510053/eb_d/msspace_article/32050MBOT2', sizes: [ 320 ,50 ]}); apstag.fetchBids({slots: a9Slots}, function() { googletag.cmd.push(function () { apstag.setDisplayBids(); googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); }); </script> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-5008 single-format-standard url-space-the-new-space-race blog-id-5 scheme-blue elementor-default elementor-kit-5392">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-NKW27JL" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div id="sidenav" class="sidenav none"> <ul> <li id="menu-item-5363" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5363"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-race/">Space Race</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2573" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2573"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/meet-the-explorers/">Meet the Explorers</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5164" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5164"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-business/">Space Business</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3389" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3389"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/test-your-knowledge/">Quizzes</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2817" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2817"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-spacerace/">Videos</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5364" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5364"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-polls/">Polls</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3392" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3392"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-terms-you-should-know/">Definitions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3394" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3394"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-facts-you-should-know/">Facts and Stats</a></li> <li id="menu-item-1715" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1715"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/">Visit Britannica.com ›</a></li> <li id="menu-item-1716" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1716"><a href="https://safe1.britannica.com/registrations2/signup.do?partnerCode=EBO_Space_USD">Start Your Free Trial ›</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sidenav-wrapper"> <header class="header"> <div class="container-full"> <div class="row"> <div class="header-logo col-6 col-3-l no-padding flex flex-middle"> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/" title="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" rel="home" class="trigger-logo"> <img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/space-logo.png" alt="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> </a> </div> <nav class="header-nav col-6 col-9-l no-padding flex flex-end flex-middle block-l" role="navigation"> <div class="header-navutil none flex-l"> <ul id="menu-utility-1" class="list-inlineblock"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3392"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-terms-you-should-know/">Definitions</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3394"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-facts-you-should-know/">Facts and Stats</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1715"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/">Visit Britannica.com ›</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1716"><a href="https://safe1.britannica.com/registrations2/signup.do?partnerCode=EBO_Space_USD">Start Your Free Trial ›</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="header-navmain none flex-l"> <ul id="menu-main-1" class="list-inlineblock"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5363"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-race/">Space Race</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2573"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/meet-the-explorers/">Meet the Explorers</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5164"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-business/">Space Business</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3389"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/test-your-knowledge/">Quizzes</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2817"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-spacerace/">Videos</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5364"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-polls/">Polls</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="header-search"> <a href="#search" class="js-toggle-search trigger trigger-search icon icon-search"> <img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_img/icon-search.png" /> <span class="icon-label sr">Search</span> </a> <form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" class="search-form is-active" action="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/"> <a href="#" class="js-toggle-search trigger trigger-close icon icon-close"> <span></span> <div class="icon-label sr">Close Search</div> </a> <label class="" for="s">Search:</label> <input type="text" value="" name="s" id="s"> <button type="submit" id="searchsubmit"><span class="">Submit</span></button> </form> </div> <a href="#sidenav" class="trigger-sidenav inline-block none-l"> <span class="icon-symbol icon-menu"><span></span></span> <span class="icon-label">Menu</span> </a> </nav> <nav class="megamenu"> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-1"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>The New Space Race is On </h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>The New Space Race</h3> <p>The new space race isn't between a couple of countries but among several players, particularly the fast-growing economies of China, India, and Japan.</p> <span>See what countries are in›</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Chandrayaan</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/chandrayaan-1/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/chandrayaan-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Chandrayaan</h3> <p>Chandrayaan-1 is an Indian lunar space probe that used reflected radiation to prospect for various elements, minerals, and ice.</p> <span>Learn more about Indian space probe</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>After the Moon Landing</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/after-moon-landing-timeline/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/5-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>After the Moon Landing Timeline</h3> <p>What happened after the Moon landing and after Apollo 11? What steps did the world take?</p> <span>View the Timeline</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-2"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Architect of Chinese space program</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/qian-xuesen/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/qian-xuesen-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Qian Xuesen</h3> <p>Qian Xuesen was a Chinese engineer and research scientist widely recognized as the “father of Chinese aerospace” for his role in establishing China’s ballistic missile program.</p> <span>Discover this engineer pioneer</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Paving the way for women</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/valentina-tereshkova/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/3000x1170-Space-Quiz-Heros-5-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Valentina Tereshkova</h3> <p>Valentina Tereshkova, Soviet cosmonaut, was the first woman to travel into space.</p> <span>Read about the first </span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>First Chinese in Space</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/yang-liwei/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/liwei-hero2-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Yang Liwei</h3> <p>Yang Liwei is a Chinese astronaut and the first person sent into space by the Chinese space program.</p> <span>Read more about the first from China</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-3"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Extraordinary Leaps </h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/spacex/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/spacex-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>SpaceX</h3> <p>SpaceX is an American aerospace company founded in 2002 that helped usher in the era of commercial spaceflight.</p> <span>Learn more</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>What is Space Tourism</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-tourism/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-tourism-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Space Tourism</h3> <p>Space tourism is recreational space travel, either on established government-owned vehicles or on a growing number of vehicles fielded by private companies. </p> <span>Would you go into space</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>What it means to send a signal</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/satellite-telecommunications/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/3000x1170-Space-Quiz-Heros-14-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Satellite Telecommunications</h3> <p>Engineers developed a design for a satellite that would operate in geostationary orbit. </p> <span>Read about its origin</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-4"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Space Exploration</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-exploration-quiz/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/space-exploration-quiz-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Space Exploration Quiz</h3> <p>Was Australia the last continent to be discovered? Who was the first human to orbit Earth? From treks through the South Pole to launches into space, test your knowledge of human exploration in this quiz.</p> <span>Take Your Best Shot</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Moon Vs Asteroid</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-vs-asteroid-quiz/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-v-asteroid-quiz-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>This or That? Moon vs. Asteroid</h3> <p>So you’ve got the planets down pat—let’s see if you know your moons. Are these astronomical bodies moons or asteroids?</p> <span>What do you know?</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Small Step, Giant Leap</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/small-step-giant-leap-fact-or-fiction/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/small-step-quiz-hero-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Small Step, Giant Leap: Fact or Fiction?</h3> <p>Is the Moon the only object in the solar system to have craters? Take a "giant leap"—or a "small step"—and learn more about the Moon in this quiz.</p> <span>Test your knowledge</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="megamenu-panel" id="megamenu-5"> <div class="container"> <div class="mega-column mega-info"> <h4> Did you know?</h4> <div class="megamenu-ghost"> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <p>An estimated 650 Million people watched Armstrong’s televised image and heard his voice describe the event as he took “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” on July 20, 1969.</p> <p><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-1078 size-thumbnail" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-150x150.jpg 150w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-300x300.jpg 300w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/moon-landing-hero-600x600.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Watch The New Space Race</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-spacerace/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Video-SpaceRace</h3> <p>From India to China, the space race is expanding. Take a few minutes to explore videos from around the globe. </p> <span>Watch on</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="mega-column mega-feature"> <h4>Watch Moon Landing History</h4> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/video-moonlanding/" class="megamenu-feature"> <div class="megamenu-thumb" style="background-image: url('https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/0000138702-300x300.jpg');"></div> <div class="megamenu-excerpt"> <h3>Video-Moonlanding</h3> <p>Watch history unfold. This page highlights stories told in video from Apollo 11 Liftoff to faking the moon landing.</p> <span>Watch on</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main class="main"> <article id="post-5008"> <div class="hero hero-top"> <img width="3000" height="1175" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg" class="hero-blurred wp-post-image" alt="Space Race" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg 3000w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-768x301.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-1024x401.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><img width="3000" height="1175" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg" class="hero-featured wp-post-image" alt="Space Race" loading="lazy" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1.jpg 3000w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-768x301.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/spacerace-hero-1-1024x401.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="content col-12"> <h1 class="entry-title"><span>The New Space Race</span></h1> <header class="entry-meta"> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-race/" class="cat-link"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/icon-rocket.png" /></span><span class="cat-label">Space Race</span></a> <div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_34 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/the-new-space-race/" data-a2a-title="The New Space Race"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2Fthe-new-space-race%2F&linkname=The%20New%20Space%20Race" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2Fthe-new-space-race%2F&linkname=The%20New%20Space%20Race" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2Fthe-new-space-race%2F&linkname=The%20New%20Space%20Race" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.britannica.com%2Fexplore%2Fspace%2Fthe-new-space-race%2F&linkname=The%20New%20Space%20Race" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a></div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration">Space exploration</a> today is a long way from the United States–Soviet Union space race in the 1960s. This means that the new space race isn’t between a couple of countries but among several players, particularly the fast-growing economies of China, India, and Japan.</p> <p>To be sure, the geopolitical dynamic is very different. In the 1960s it was a battle of capitalism versus communism that spurred the Soviet Union to send the first satellite and first human into space and for the United States to eventually send the first humans to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Moon">Moon</a>. Today the conversation is more centered on economic opportunities—the chance to create unique products in microgravity or to mine rare elements from the Moon or nearby asteroids. What remains the same, though, is national prestige.</p> <div class="wp-block-image overflow-visible"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" width="800" height="2000" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/oexplor144a4_v4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5020" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/oexplor144a4_v4.jpg 800w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/oexplor144a4_v4-768x1920.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/08/oexplor144a4_v4-410x1024.jpg 410w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure></div> <p>Today’s Earth-orbit space economy is dominated by small-scale manufacturing on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/explore/space/international-space-station/">International Space Station </a>(ISS; a coalition of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and approximately a dozen other partner countries) as well as satellites that usually focus on surveillance, weather or climate monitoring, and telecommunications. </p> <p></p> <p>China, India, and Japan are all major players in this Earth-orbit ecosystem. China’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Chang-Zheng">Chang Zheng</a> (“Long March”) boosters send communications satellites and Earth-observation satellites into orbit for military and civilian purposes. India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is just one example of boosters available from the country; one of PSLV’s best-known missions was successfully sending the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/explore/space/chandrayaan-1/">Chandrayaan-1</a> mission to the Moon. Japanese rockets have delivered not only satellites into orbit but also HTV cargo spacecraft for the ISS. That’s not even mentioning their forays across the solar system to the Moon, asteroids, and Venus. </p> <p>NASA and its partner ISS countries are now considering restarting human Moon exploration; the agency stated it wants to land humans on the surface again in 2024 and opened up commercial opportunities to U.S. companies to participate. But the U.S. isn’t the only country with lunar ambitions. At one time or another, Japan, China, and India have all expressed interest in human lunar landings. </p> <p>China’s human space program is the only independent one of the three countries, as it launched several astronauts into spacecraft—as well as two small space stations—in the last decade or so. China has sent several missions to the Moon, most recently its mission that landed the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/explore/space/change/">Chang’e 4</a> probe on the far side of the Moon in 2019; China, thus, became the first to soft-land a spacecraft in that lunar hemisphere. While China does not have human Moon exploration in its five-year plan for space, <a href="https://www.space.com/42914-china-far-side-moon-landing-crewed-lunar-plans.html">according to Space.com</a>, it has run practice lunar missions on Earth and is keen on eventually expanding its human presence in space. </p> <ul class="wp-container-2 wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2008_0000126092-1024x576.jpg" alt="Chandrayaan-1" data-id="3473" data-link="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/2008_0000126092/" class="wp-image-3473" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2008_0000126092-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2008_0000126092-768x432.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2008_0000126092.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Artist’s conception of the Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe. <br><em>Credit: Doug Ellison </em></figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/sts079-821-036_orig-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Russian Mir Space Station" data-id="3574" data-link="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/sts079-821-036_orig/" class="wp-image-3574" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/sts079-821-036_orig-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/sts079-821-036_orig-150x150.jpg 150w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/sts079-821-036_orig-300x300.jpg 300w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/sts079-821-036_orig-768x768.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/sts079-821-036_orig-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/sts079-821-036_orig-600x600.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Russian Mir Space Station undocking activities, a crew member captured this 70mm frame of Mir as the two crews shared their final common sunset scene. <br><em>Credit: NASA</em></figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="623" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2007_0000146589-1024x623.jpg" alt="Chang'e 1" data-id="3471" data-link="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/2007_0000146589/" class="wp-image-3471" srcset="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2007_0000146589-1024x623.jpg 1024w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2007_0000146589-768x467.jpg 768w, https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/2007_0000146589.jpg 1369w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Artist’s rendering of the Chang’e 1 spacecraft. <em>Credit: National Space Science Data Center/NASA </em></figcaption></figure></li></ul> <p>Japan is a current partner on the ISS and has flown several astronauts to space on the space shuttle and space station. (Japanese journalist <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Akiyama-Toyohiro">Akiyama Toyohiro</a> flew to the Soviet/Russian space station <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mir-Soviet-Russian-space-station">Mir</a> as a spaceflight participant, independent of Japan’s space agency.) Japan’s solar system experience is quite extensive; successful uncrewed missions relevant to lunar exploration included <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kaguya">Selene (Kaguya)</a>, which orbited the Moon, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hayabusa-Japanese-spacecraft">Hayabusa and Hayabusa2</a> missions to return asteroid dust grain samples. In May 2019 Japan and the United States announced a collaboration that could see Japanese astronauts fly to the Moon, although the nature of the agreement was not fully announced, <a href="https://spacenews.com/u-s-and-japan-to-cooperate-on-return-to-the-moon/">according to SpaceNews</a>.</p> <p>India has already sent two missions to the Moon: the now completed Chandrayaan-1 and its successor Chandrayaan-2, which launched in July 2019 and is scheduled to land in September. Additionally, there have been two people of Indian origin who have flown in space. These were <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rakesh-Sharma">Rakesh Sharma</a>, who flew to the Salyut 7 space station as part of the Soviet Intercosmos program in 1984, and Kalpana Chawla, a NASA astronaut who flew on two space shuttle missions and died with her crew in 2003 when the space shuttle Columbia broke up upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. India is working on its own Indian Human Space Flight Programme, Gaganyaan,  that is expected to launch the first astronauts independently around 2021 or 2022. While the country has not disclosed a time frame for going to the Moon, officials have expressed interest in sending humans there at some point. </p> <p>These Asian countries form part of a larger group of countries who have lunar ambitions. Although the race to reach the Moon is friendlier and more multinational than it was in the 1960s, it is clear that Earth’s nearest large neighbour in space still holds attraction for everyone capable of exploring it. National pride and technological prowess, together, are encouraging these countries not only to go to the Moon but—if money and political interest permit—to develop a long-term economy there and expand across the solar system. </p> <p><strong><em>Written by Elizabeth Howell</em></strong></p> <p><em>Elizabeth Howell has reported and written on space for such outlets as </em>Space.com <em>and </em>Forbes<em>. She is president of the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada.</em></p> <p>Top Image Credit: NASA</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <aside class="row"> <div class="col-12 col-2-3-m"> <div class="entry-related"> <h4 class="color-default">More Articles on Space Race</h4> <ul class="list-block list-rules"> <li> <img width="370" height="280" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/red-planet-hero-370x280.jpg" class="attachment-list size-list wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /> <div> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/?p=1617" title="Mars, the Red Planet">Mars, the Red Planet</a> <p>Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system in order of distance from the Sun and seventh in size and mass.</p> </div> </li> <li> <img width="370" height="280" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/3000x1170-Space-Quiz-Heros-10-370x280.jpg" class="attachment-list size-list wp-post-image" alt="Robert Goddard" loading="lazy" /> <div> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/prelude-to-spaceflight/" title="Prelude to Spaceflight">Prelude to Spaceflight</a> <p>By the 20th century, rockets had advanced to the point where it was reasonable that we could accelerate objects to enter orbit around Earth.</p> </div> </li> <li> <img width="370" height="280" src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/astronaut-training-hero-370x280.jpg" class="attachment-list size-list wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /> <div> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/astronaut-training/" title="Astronaut Training">Astronaut Training</a> <p>Astronaut candidates must undergo a rigorous screening process as well as meet physical and skills requirements to be able to perform effectively in high-stress situations.</p> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="col-12 col-1-3-m"> <div class="entry-categories"> <h4 class="color-default">All Categories</h4> <ul class="list-block list-rules"><li><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/meet-the-explorers/" class="cat-link" alt="View all post filed under Meet the People"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/icon-astronaut-1.png" /></span>Meet the People</a></li><li><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-business/" class="cat-link" alt="View all post filed under Space Business"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/icon-pie-chart.png" /></span>Space Business</a></li><li><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-prediction/" class="cat-link" alt="View all post filed under Space Prediction"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/icon-graph.png" /></span>Space Prediction</a></li><li><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-race/" class="cat-link" alt="View all post filed under Space Race"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/icon-rocket.png" /></span>Space Race</a></li><li><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-stewardship/" class="cat-link" alt="View all post filed under Space Stewardship"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/icon-flag.png" /></span>Space Stewardship</a></li><li><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/test-your-knowledge/" class="cat-link" alt="View all post filed under Test Your Knowledge"><span class="cat-icon"><img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/09/icon-question.png" /></span>Test Your Knowledge</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </main> <footer class="footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <nav class="footer-nav col-12"> <ul id="menu-footer" class="list-block list-disable"><li id="menu-item-2576" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-2576"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/explore">Special Content</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-2577" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2577"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/explore/100women">100Women</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2578" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2578"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/explore/SavingEarth">Earth’s To-Do List</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2579" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2579"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/">World War II</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-3645" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-3645"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/race-to-the-moon/">Race to the Moon</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-3646" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3646"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-landing-timeline/">Moon Landing Timeline</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3648" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-post menu-item-3648"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-landing-facts/">Moon Landing : Just the Facts</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3647" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-post menu-item-3647"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/after-apollo-what/">After Apollo, What?</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-2617" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-2617"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-race/">Space Exploration</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-2613" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2613"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/meet-the-explorers/">Meet the People</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3653" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3653"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-polls/">Space Race Polls</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2616" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2616"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-prediction/">Space Prediction</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2619" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2619"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-stewardship/">Space Stewardship</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2614" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2614"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/space-business/">Space Business</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-3649" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-3649"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/category/test-your-knowledge/">Test Your Knowledge</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-3650" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3650"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/moon-vs-asteroid-quiz/">This or That? Moon vs. Asteroid</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3652" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3652"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/space-fact-or-fiction/">Space: Fact or Fiction?</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3651" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3651"><a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/stars-explosions-in-space-quiz/">Stars: Explosions in Space Quiz</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="container flex flex-bottom"> <div class="row"> <div class="footer-legal col-12 has-small-font-size"> <a href="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/" title="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" rel="home"> <img src="https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_img/footer-logo.png" alt="SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica" /> </a> <div class="legal-links"> <a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a> <a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/termsofuse.html">Terms of Use</a> <button id="doNotSell">Do Not Sell My Info</button> </div> Copyright 2025 <a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</a> All rights reserved. </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <script>requestAnimationFrame(() => document.body.classList.add( "stk--anim-init" ))</script><style>.wp-container-2 {display: flex;gap: 0.5em;flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.wp-container-2 > * { margin: 0; }</style> <style> .wp-block-gallery-1{ --wp--style--unstable-gallery-gap: var( --wp--style--gallery-gap-default, var( --gallery-block--gutter-size, var( --wp--style--block-gap, 0.5em ) ) ); gap: var( --wp--style--gallery-gap-default, var( --gallery-block--gutter-size, var( --wp--style--block-gap, 0.5em ) ) )}</style><script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/plugins/social-polls-by-opinionstage/public/js/shortcodes.js?ver=19.8.14' id='opinionstage-shortcodes-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/jquery.mmenu.js?ver=7.3.2' id='functions-mmenu-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/slick.min.js?ver=1.8.1' id='functions-slick-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/functions.js?ver=1.1' id='functions-script-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/ccpa.js?ver=0.2' id='functions-ccpa-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://explore.britannica.com/explore/space/wp-content/themes/eb-explore/_js/prebid2.11.0.js?ver=2.11.0' id='functions-prebid-js'></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

The New Space Race | SpaceNext50 | Encyclopedia Britannica