NASA's acting administrator, Sean Duffy, announced plans to broaden the competition for a human landing system on the Moon, Ars Technica reports. Duffy made the statement during two television interviews. He pointed out that SpaceX, the company building the Starship vehicle for this role, is not meeting its development deadlines. The original NASA goal was a crewed landing in 2027, but Duffy said this timeline is no longer realistic due to technical challenges, such as refueling the vehicle in space.
In 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a $2.9 billion contract to adapt Starship for lunar landings. This would pair it with NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to transport people from Earth. Later, in 2023, NASA gave Blue Origin, another private company, a $3.4 billion deal for a separate lander aimed at missions in the 2030s. Duffy's proposal would invite more firms to bid on the near-term work, potentially speeding up progress to beat China, which plans its own crewed Moon mission by 2030.
Internal pressures and political context shape the shift
Duffy's comments also tie into efforts to secure his position at NASA notes Eric Berger in the Ars Technica story. Duffy has faced calls to find a permanent leader. Sources suggest growing support for billionaire Jared Isaacman, a private astronaut, to take the role after president Trump withdrew his earlier nomination for political reasons. Duffy's public push for lunar competition may aim to show active leadership, especially with Trump's term ending in January 2029. A Republican advisor noted that while the idea of more options is positive, it risks favoring expensive government-style contracts over commercial innovation.
Berger previously suggested that NASA should consider Blue Origin. Blue Origin could adapt its lunar cargo lander, set for a test flight soon, to avoid refueling needs. Traditional aerospace contractors like Lockheed Martin have expressed readiness. However, expanding contracts would require new funds from Congress. SpaceX founder Elon Musk responded confidently on social media, claiming Starship's speed would let it handle the full mission. NASA has asked SpaceX and Blue Origin for acceleration plans by late October and will seek ideas from the wider industry.