Overview
- Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy said the human lunar lander contract will be reopened, citing delays with SpaceX’s Starship-based system.
- Artemis 3, the first planned crewed lunar landing of the program, now targets a 2028 launch after multiple prior slips.
- NASA completed full assembly of the Artemis 2 SLS rocket with the Orion spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center, with launch planned as early as February 5, 2026 and a window extending into late April.
- Duffy named Blue Origin as a potential challenger and noted NASA could have two companies participate, as Blue Origin already holds a separate 2023 lander contract worth about $3.4 billion.
- SpaceX continues Starship testing with recent successes reported on August 26 and October 13, while Elon Musk questioned whether Blue Origin can accelerate to match SpaceX’s pace.