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On Episode 203 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik are joined by Dr. Namrata Goswami of Johns Hopkins University to examine the potential threats to American leadership in space.

Many suggest there is a new space race afoot, this time between the US and China. We've also know that America seems to be at its best in innovation and achievement when challenged by some external force. Will the Chinese human lunar program light the fuse of American innovation and accomplishment when it comes to our lagging lunar program and other spaceflight initiatives?

Who will be first to land astronauts on the moon? Does it really matter? Who controls what regions of the moon? Will cislunar space be contested between major space powers? This and much more in this episode of This Week in Space.

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Space news of the week

• What time is NASA's Artemis 2 moon launch on April 1?

• Incredible new NASA images reveal Saturn in a new light — and it's all thanks to a telescope team-up from Webb and Hubble

• 'For All Mankind' is confirmed for season 6, but it'll be the final mission for Apple TV's incredible space show

• Rattling the Roman Space Telescope | Space photo of the day for March 26, 2026

• Dr. Namrata Goswami

• NASA’s Rivalry/Not-Rivalry With China’s Space Agency Takes Off China’s Mengzhou is putting pressure on NASA’s lunar time frame

• China designates space sector an “emerging pillar industry,” sets deep space ambitions in new economic blueprint

• Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies

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About This Week In Space

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.