Trump's NASA pick to tell Congress about moon race with China, deep

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead NASA, will tell senators on Wednesday that he wants to expand investments in nuclear propulsion and commercial efforts to help the U.S. return to the moon before China, which he calls “our great rival,” gets there, according to prepared testimony seen by Reuters.

“America will return to the Moon before our great rival, and we will establish an enduring presence to understand and realize the scientific, economic, and national security value on the lunar surface,” Isaacman wrote for the Senate hearing. He did not directly name China as the rival, but that country has been making an effort to land astronauts on the moon by 2030.

Isaacman added “we will set the stage for future m