Overview
- Acting administrator Sean Duffy said SpaceX is behind on its Starship human landing system and that the agency will not wait for a single vendor.
- Duffy signaled that Blue Origin and potentially other providers could vie for Artemis III lander work, and Blue Origin said it is ready to support.
- Elon Musk attacked Duffy on X after the announcement, calling him unintelligent and alleging he is trying to kill NASA, according to posts reported Tuesday.
- Program timelines remain unsettled, with Duffy suggesting an earlier February 2026 window for Artemis II and discussing a return to the lunar surface by 2028.
- Analysts say revising the lander plan would be complex and expensive, likely requiring new Congressional funding, and a government shutdown could slow procurement steps.