NASA’s Moon Ambitions Under Scrutiny: Experts Debate The Best Path Forward

After receiving conflicting ideas on how to progress with NASA Artemis lunar missions, the House committee is now weighing its options on the way forward. On 26 February 2025, the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee hearing was held to better plan the path for future lunar missions.

Future NASA Artemis Lunar Missions, One Goal, Different Views

Present as witnesses at the subcommittee hearing on 26 February 2025 were Scott Pace and Dan Dumbacher. Both served in various positions helping to boost the US space exploration goals.

Pace served as an executive secretary of the National Space Council, while Dumbacher served as a deputy associate administrator for exploration at NASA. Considering the positions these gentlemen held during their time of service, their advice regarding future lunar missions will be very valuable.

While both Pace and Dumbacher agree that returning to the moon soon is important, they both share different viewpoints on how the US should meet this goal. Pace points out that “For U.S. leadership to be effective, human space exploration missions cannot be ‘one and done’ but must be repeatable and sustainable.”

For this to be possible, Pace calls for an early “off ramp” from the US reliance on Space Launch Systems. He argues that a gradual shift from the reliance on Space Launch Systems is important and that by the launch of the Artemis 4 mission, the US will need to have more alternatives.

Dumbacher on his part expresses doubt in the ability of the SpaceX Starship fleet to land humans on the moon in a decade. He highlights NASA’s plan to use about 35 to 40 Starship launches to “first demonstrate the capability on an uncrewed mission and then execute the first human mission, planned for Artemis 3.”

He questions the possibility of completing the development and demonstration of 40 launches by 2030. If this in itself isn’t possible, the US will be behind China, its main competitor in space missions, as the Chinese government plans to land humans on the Moon by 2023.

Dumbacher also points out that “China has met every space milestone they have proposed, plus or minus a year.” So the US needs to look at alternatives to SpaceX Starship rockets like a “small, new lander” which can be ready before 2030.

US Race Against China To Land Humans On The Moon

Although Scott Pace and Dan Dumbacher have different views on the process of getting humans to the Moon, they have a common goal. This goal is getting humans to the Moon before 2030 and the House committee shares that same goal as well.

The method to take for carrying out future NASA Artemis lunar missions will vary from person to person. However, it is important to take into consideration the ideas that best suit the mission at hand and can be completed earlier.

During the committee hearing, Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), chairman of the space subcommittee, said that the US is “in a race to the moon, and America must win that race.” Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), ranking member of the subcommittee, also stands by that resolution, stating that American astronauts must get to the moon before China.
Over the past few years, China has been on full throttle regarding space missions. It will be interesting to see how it responds to the US’ newly found goal of getting humans to the Moon first.