NASA is reigniting the lunar lander competition for its Artemis III mission after SpaceX fell behind schedule. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced the decision on social media, emphasizing that fresh competition can drive faster innovation.
Under the new plan, the Human Landing System (HLS) contract will be opened to bids from Blue Origin and other American aerospace firms. NASA’s goal is to ensure astronauts can touch down on the lunar surface on schedule, with crews collecting samples, running experiments, and returning safely to orbit.
SpaceX, which originally secured the contract to develop a Starship-based lander, must now vie against rivals to keep its lead role. The company was tasked with an uncrewed demo flight before carrying crew on Artemis III, slated to explore the moon’s south pole.
In a recent interview, Duffy noted that the final major hardware piece for Artemis II is in place: the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, is fully attached to the Space Launch System rocket. Artemis II aims to send the first crewed flight around the moon in 2026.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk defended his corner, tweeting that his team is "moving like lightning compared to the rest of the space industry," and predicting that Starship will ultimately handle the entire moon mission.
The Artemis program brings together a broad industry roster, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, all working toward establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon and paving the way for Mars exploration.
With the timeline set for an April 2026 crewed flyby and a mid-2027 surface landing, NASA’s call for new bids underscores its commitment to resilience and innovation on the next giant leap for humanity.
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NASA to reopen lunar lander contract as SpaceX falls behind schedule
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