NASA is reevaluating its partnership with SpaceX for the Artemis 3 lunar mission, potentially opening the door for other competitors. This announcement comes from NASA’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy, who indicated that the company, led by Elon Musk, is falling behind on critical timelines for the ambitious project aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
In April 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract valued at $2.9 billion to develop a modified version of its Starship vehicle for the Artemis program. This spacecraft is intended to facilitate the landing of astronauts on the moon during the upcoming Artemis 3 mission, which has already experienced delays. Duffy stated on Monday, October 20, that while he admires SpaceX, the company is lagging in its development schedule.
“The problem is, they’re behind. They’ve pushed their timelines out, and we’re in a race against China,” Duffy said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” He emphasized the urgency of the situation by noting, “The president and I want to get to the moon in this president’s term, so I’m gonna open up the contract.” This shift would allow other space organizations, such as Blue Origin, to compete for the contract.
Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin secured an Artemis Human Landing System contract worth $3.4 billion in 2023. The company plans to utilize its Blue Moon lander, which is currently expected to make its crewed lunar debut on the Artemis 5 mission. Duffy’s comments suggest that NASA is willing to explore options beyond SpaceX to ensure timely progress on its lunar goals.
Musk expressed skepticism regarding Blue Origin’s ability to meet the timeline necessary for a crewed mission. “Blue Origin has never delivered a payload to orbit, let alone the moon,” he stated via social media platform X, later clarifying that he meant “useful payload.” Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket did experience a successful launch earlier this year, but that test flight only delivered a prototype to low Earth orbit.
The timeline for Artemis 3 has been adjusted multiple times, originally slated for late 2024. It was subsequently postponed to 2025, then to September 2026, and now potentially to mid-2027. During the CNBC interview, Duffy mentioned that the new target could be as late as 2028. This delay not only reflects challenges with the Starship vehicle but also issues related to spacesuit development and the NASA Orion capsule, which is tasked with transporting astronauts to lunar orbit.
NASA successfully conducted the Artemis 1 mission in late 2022, which involved an uncrewed flight of the Orion capsule around the moon. The next mission, Artemis 2, is scheduled to launch in February 2024, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon, and remains on track.
Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to progress with its Starship program, having completed 11 suborbital test flights to date. The most recent launches on August 26 and October 13 were fully successful, showcasing the company’s ongoing commitment to the development of its lunar lander.
As NASA pushes forward with its lunar ambitions, it must also contend with competition from China, which aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2030. The dynamics of international space exploration continue to evolve, with NASA’s decisions regarding partnerships and timelines playing a critical role in the future of lunar missions.
