"US and China Compete for Lunar Mining Dominance in Space Race"

The US and China are engaged in a competitive space race to mine the moon and other celestial bodies for rare earth elements. While the US has a head start in lunar exploration, China has made significant advancements with its Chang'e missions, including soft landings and sample returns. Both countries are interested in establishing lunar bases to study and exploit lunar resources. Additionally, they are exploring the possibility of asteroid mining. However, challenges such as the high cost of bringing resources back to Earth and the potential risks of altering trajectories and causing collisions need to be addressed.