Overview
- Acting Administrator Sean Duffy said NASA will open the Human Landing System award to new bidders, citing schedule slips on SpaceX’s Starship.
- Blue Origin is expected to compete, with legacy contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman positioned for roles.
- NASA now targets a crewed lunar landing in 2028 after determining 2027 is unrealistic, while Artemis II is planned for April 2026 and may shift to February.
- Recent Starship testing featured multiple failures that prompted FAA scrutiny and pauses, followed by a largely successful flight in mid‑October.
- The move reflects pressure to return Americans to the Moon before early 2029 as the mission is cast as a race with China’s 2030 target.