NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the United States has only months of margin to reach the lunar surface ahead of China, which is targeting a crewed moon landing in 2029.

Isaacman told NewsNation that NASA is aiming for an American crewed landing in 2028 while Beijing has set 2029 as its goal. “We have a real rival here in China,” he said Thursday. “They intend to put their astronauts on the surface of the moon in 2029. Our intention is to do it in 2028. That means, no matter what, it’s coming down to months, not years. That is way too close.”

Both countries are focused on the lunar South Pole as a potential site for future bases. Under Isaacman, NASA has accelerated its Artemis plans, reorganized human spaceflight operations, and created a dedicated Moon Base program aimed at establishing a sustained presence near the South Pole.

Isaacman described landing ahead of China as more than a symbolic victory, comparing its strategic importance to the Apollo 11 landing in 1969, which demonstrated American technological superiority during the Cold War. The competition continues even as President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping work to manage bilateral tensions across technology, trade, and other areas.

NASA is also advancing lunar infrastructure, including plans for a nuclear surface power system that could support long-term operations on the Moon.

In the same interview, Isaacman discussed unidentified anomalous phenomena, saying he remains open-minded about certain unexplained government-documented incidents. He said most cases are likely natural phenomena or undisclosed technology, while arguing NASA should help determine whether any evidence points beyond Earth.

He also addressed the idea of placing large data centers in orbit, noting that the decision will ultimately hinge on economics—whether the cost of launching, maintaining, and replacing space-based facilities can compete with terrestrial data centers.