A air-and-space official told Congress on Wednesday that the United States needs more nuclear spacecrafts in order to compete with world-regions.
“Strategic competitors including China are aggressively investing in a wide range of space technologies, including nuclear power and propulsion,” Bhavya Lal, NASA’s senior advisor for budget and finance, told the House Science, Space, and Tech subcommittee on Wednesday. “The United States needs to move at a fast pace to stay competitive and to remain a leader in the global space community.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during the closing session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
((AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein))
CHINESE AGGRESSION TOWARD TAIWAN TESTING US RESOLVE IN WAKE OF AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL, EXPERTS SAY
The testimony from Lal and other experts comes amid reports that China has tested an orbital rocket that could deliver nuclear weapons at supersonic speeds.
China in August test-launched two hypersonic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, the Financial Times reported. Such projectiles can fly at more than five times the speed of sound – slower than a ballistic missile, but are harder to track and stop.
The development reportedly surprised U.S. intelligence officials, though the missile missed its target by about two dozen miles.
The Long March-2F Y13 rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft and three astronauts in China’s second crewed mission to build its own space station, launches at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 16, 2021.
(REUTERS)
GREG GUTFELD: WE ARE OUR OWN ENEMY NOW, AND WE DON’T HAVE TO LIFT A WEAPON
The former chief software officer for the U.S. Air Force was “not surprised” by China’s nuclear-capable rocket launch and warned that the U.S. “is running out of time” to catch up in the artificial intelligence race against China.
Earlier this month, China sent three astronauts to its air-and-space” target=”_blank”>space<
China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday renewed its commitment to cooperation with other nations in the peaceful use of space.
Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said sending humans into space was a “common cause of mankind,” and China would “continue to extend the depth and breadth of international cooperation and exchanges” in crewed spaceflight and “make positive contributions to the exploration of the mysteries of the universe.”
Fox News’ Teny Sahakian and Associated Press contributed to this report
