Musk casts shadow on China’s space ambitions, US moon sample swap stalls, Mars ocean found and more

The billionaire SpaceX owner’s presence in the new administration could accelerate the US space programme, intensifying the US-China space rivalry. Observers advise sticking to domestic milestones, avoiding a space race with the US.

Negotiations between China and the US for a moon sample exchange stall as the US space agency remains unresponsive to China’s offer, highlighting ongoing space collaboration challenges between the two nations.

The Chinese president presented lunar samples to the Italian leader during Mattarella’s six-day visit to China. The gift coincides with the return of a collection of Chinese cultural relics from Italy as part of an agreement to prevent the illegal sale of historic items.