China is racing to the moon, and America must clear the path for space innovation

Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has and wondered: How did the universe come to be? What lies beyond our own world? Are we alone in this vast expanse? And will we ever venture far enough to set foot on another planet?

Over the centuries, human ingenuity has helped answer some of these questions. Others may only be known to our Creator. But whether mankind will ever live and work on another world is a question we are closer to answering now than ever before.

What once belonged to the pages of science fiction is rapidly becoming reality. And at the forefront of this extraordinary new era of exploration stands the United States of America.

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From the Apollo program to todays groundbreaking missions to the moon and beyond, the American pioneering spirit has continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible. But what truly sets America apart is not simply the vision of our government or the brilliance of our scientists. It is the unmatched capabilities of our commercial space sector.

That success did not happen by accident. It is the product of decades of , investment and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

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One of the clearest examples of what this partnership can accomplish is unfolding right in my home state of Texas.

In February 2024, Houston-based Intuitive Machines made history when its Odysseus lander became the first American spacecraft to touch down on the moon in more than half a century — and the first privately built spacecraft to achieve a soft lunar landing. Just over a year later, Cedar Park, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace landed its Blue Ghost spacecraft on the lunar surface, delivering 10 NASA science and technology instruments and completing two weeks of operations.

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These achievements are more than historic milestones. They demonstrate what is possible when NASAs expertise and resources are paired with the talent and innovation of American companies. Through initiatives like NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, the federal government is helping develop a thriving commercial lunar industry while advancing the technologies needed to return astronauts to the moon and eventually reach Mars.

As chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I have seen firsthand the role thoughtful policy can play in supporting these achievements. From commercial lunar deliveries to the next generation of space stations, our committee has worked to advance the partnerships, research and technologies shaping Americas future in space.

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