'Power rivalry in space': China lunar mission fuels US misinformation

China's Chang'e 6 mission returned with samples from the Moon's far side, sparking misinformation about NASA's Apollo landings. Chinese-language posts falsely claimed the 1969 US moon landing was staged, fueling anti-US sentiment amid the US-China space race. Researchers warn that this misinformation could hinder space diplomacy. The Chinese government has heavily invested in its space program, with plans for a crewed mission by 2030. Meanwhile, the US aims to return astronauts to the Moon by 2026.