NASA chief concerned China may deny access to parts of South Pole

NASA chief Jared Isaacman expressed concern on Wednesday evening at the Off World conference in Houston regarding China's recent delay of the Chang'e 7 robotic mission to the Moon's South Pole. The Chinese mission, initially planned for early next year, has been pushed back until an unspecified time. While the country did not provide a detailed explanation for the schedule slip, Isaacman welcomed the delay.

This is because the Chang'e 7 mission was targeting the same location on the lunar South Pole as NASA, specifically the Shackleton crater. The Shackleton crater, situated on the high rims of the crater, creates permanently shadowed regions known as "cold traps." These regions are believed to have accumulated water ice and other valuable materials over billions of years.

NASA Administrator Isaacman's comment suggests that the delay may have been beneficial for NASA's lunar exploration plans.