NASA's acting chief "angry" about talk that China will beat US back to the Moon

""We had testimony that said NASA will not beat China to the Moon," Duffy remarked during an all-hands meeting with NASA employees. "That was shade thrown on all of NASA. I heard it, and I gotta tell you what, maybe I am competitive, I was angry about it. I can tell you what, I'll be damned if that is the story that we write. We are going to beat the Chinese to the Moon.""

"Duffy's remarks were characteristic of his tenure since his appointment two months ago by Trump to serve as interim administrator of the space agency. He has made frequent appearances on Fox News and offered generally upbeat views of NASA's position in its competition with China for supremacy in space. And on Friday, in a slickly produced video, he said, "I'm committed to getting us back to the Moon before President Trump leaves office.""

Sean Duffy vowed that NASA will beat China to land humans on the Moon and rejected testimony claiming otherwise. Former congressman Jim Bridenstine warned that China has pulled ahead and said the United States is unlikely to beat China's projected timeline to the lunar surface. China has stated intentions to land taikonauts on the Moon before 2030. Duffy has frequently appeared on Fox News and presented upbeat assessments of NASA's competitive position. Duffy pledged to return humans to the Moon before President Trump's term ends and is serving as interim administrator while seeking a permanent post.

Read at Ars Technica