NASA is considering opening its Artemis III moon landing contract to new bidders, a move that could sideline SpaceX and its Starship vehicle. The potential shift comes amid growing concerns about development timelines and an intensifying space race with China, according to statements from the agency's acting chief, Sean Duffy.
The decision could fundamentally alter the plan to return American astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in over five decades, a mission currently scheduled for as early as mid-2027.
Key Takeaways
- NASA's acting chief has publicly stated his intent to "open up the contract" for the Artemis III lunar lander, currently held by SpaceX.
- Concerns over SpaceX's development schedule for its Starship vehicle are the primary driver for this potential change.
- The move is framed by a sense of urgency to land astronauts on the moon before China, which has a stated goal of 2030.
- Competitors like Blue Origin are positioned to potentially take over the mission, with other companies possibly entering the competition.
A Race Against Time and Timelines
The core of the issue lies with the development of SpaceX's Starship, the massive, next-generation rocket system selected in 2021 to serve as the Human Landing System for the Artemis III mission. In a series of television appearances, acting NASA chief Sean Duffy expressed dissatisfaction with the current pace.
"They push their timelines out, and we’re in a race against China," Duffy stated on Monday. "So, I’m going to open up the contract. I’m going to let other space companies compete with SpaceX."
This sentiment highlights a growing unease within the agency and among lawmakers that the United States could lose its leadership position in lunar exploration. China has made significant strides in its space program and has publicly targeted a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
The Artemis Program
The Artemis program is NASA's multi-stage initiative to establish a long-term human presence on and around the Moon. Artemis I was an uncrewed test flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule. Artemis II is planned as a crewed flyby of the Moon. Artemis III is the mission slated to land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.
SpaceX was awarded a $2.9 billion contract in 2021 to develop a lunar variant of its Starship vehicle. While the company has conducted several test flights, including successful suborbital landings in 2025, the vehicle has also experienced in-flight failures and remains in the early stages of development for a mission of this complexity.
Potential Competitors Emerge
Duffy's remarks have opened the door for other aerospace companies to step into a more prominent role. The most immediate candidate is Blue Origin, the space venture founded by Jeff Bezos.
Blue Origin is already under contract with NASA to develop its Blue Moon lander for later missions in the Artemis program, such as Artemis V. The company received its contract in 2023. When asked for comment on the potential opportunity, a Blue Origin spokesperson stated that the company is "ready to support."
"If SpaceX is behind, but Blue Origin can do it before them, good on Blue Origin," Duffy said, adding, "we’re not going to wait for one company. We’re going to push this forward and win the second space race against the Chinese."
Duffy also suggested that the competition might not be limited to existing contract holders. This could create an opportunity for other firms, such as Dynetics, which was an original bidder for the lunar lander contract alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Complex Technical Hurdles
A significant challenge for both the SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers is the requirement for in-orbit refueling. This complex maneuver, which has never been attempted on this scale, involves transferring cryogenic propellants between vehicles in space. Industry experts have warned that perfecting this technology could introduce prohibitive delays to an already tight schedule.
The Future of the Lunar Landing
It remains unclear how or when NASA will formally amend or reopen the contract for the Artemis III mission. Duffy mentioned being "in the process of opening that contract up," but a NASA spokesperson did not immediately provide further details on the mechanism for such a change.
This development represents a significant potential reversal of NASA's strategy, which has relied heavily on a partnership with SpaceX to achieve its near-term lunar ambitions. The agency's willingness to publicly reconsider a multi-billion dollar contract underscores the immense pressure it faces to meet its deadlines.
The coming months will be critical in determining the path forward. Any decision to switch primary contractors would have cascading effects on training, mission planning, and the overall architecture of the Artemis program. For now, the aerospace industry is on notice that the mission to land the next Americans on the Moon is a competition in every sense of the word.