Why is the US racing to return to the Moon?

US Vice-President Mike Pence has ordered Nasa to return astronauts to the Moon within five years, with a woman first in line to set foot on the lunar surface.

Referencing China’s recent successful robotic mission to the far side of the Moon, he said: ‘We’re in a space race today, just as we were in the 1960s.’

Mr Pence said the initial 2028 goal for the next American on the Moon was ‘just not good enough.’

He said: ‘It is the stated policy of this administration and the United States of America to return American astronauts to the moon within the next five years.

‘Some will say it’s too hard, it’s too risky, it’s too expensive. But the same was said back in 1962.

‘Just as the United States was the first nation to reach the Moon in the 20th Century, so too, we will be the first nation to return astronauts to the Moon in the 21st Century.’

Speaking at the United States Space and Rocket Centre in Alabama, he added: ‘The next giant leap is to return American astronauts to the Moon within the next five years by any means necessary, and to establish a permanent presence on the Moon and prepare to put American astronauts on Mars.’

‘In order to accomplish this, Nasa must transform itself into a leaner, more accountable and more agile organisation.’

Nasa will target the lunar south pole, a challenging region with areas that are in permanent darkness.

But the pole also holds reserves of water-ice, which Nasa wants to turn into fuel for spacecraft.

50 years ago, “one small step for man” became “one giant leap for mankind” – and now we must make the next “giant leap” and return American astronauts to the Moon, establish a permanent presence there, & develop the technologies to take American astronauts to Mars & beyond. pic.twitter.com/U3h22DCoxI

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) March 26, 2019