Overview
- Acting administrator Sean Duffy said on Fox News that NASA will relaunch competitive solicitations for lunar work previously centered on SpaceX.
- Blue Origin is expected to bid in the new competition, while SpaceX has been developing the Starship lander under a contract widely reported at about $2.9 billion.
- NASA still lists Artemis 2 for early 2026 and Artemis 3 for mid-2027, though an independent panel warned Starship’s modified design could face years of delay.
- Duffy framed the shift as necessary to accelerate timelines and to ensure the United States returns to the Moon ahead of China’s planned crewed mission by 2030.
- Elon Musk criticized Duffy on X and insisted Starship will complete the lunar mission despite concerns over SpaceX’s schedule and technical hurdles.