Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:27:59 +0000 Subject: U.S. resorts to land squatting on the Moon with unmanned landers Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: sci.space.policy Author-Supplied-Address: dyneemagmailcom From: Dyneema Path: csiph.com!weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!sewer!news.dizum.net!not-for-mail Organization: dizum.com - The Internet Problem Provider X-Abuse: abuse@dizum.com Injection-Info: sewer.dizum.com - 2001::1/128 Xref: csiph.com sci.space.policy:69090 https://spacenews.com/nasa-considering-sharp-increase-in-robotic-lunar-landings/ I believe this endeavor is being initiated because NASA knows China will beat it to the Moon as far as a manned landing is concerned. The development of SpaceX's Starship is lagging so far behind that a manned landing before 2030 is probably unrealistic and inconceivable. So as a backup plan it tries to squat as much territory as possible by landing robotic landers everywhere on the Lunar South Pole. On a monthly basis even. This would result in dozens of landers littering the Lunar South Pole before the Chinese arrive. This goal obviously isn't communicated anywhere, but you need to read between the lines to know its true intent.