Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy says NASA will open the Artemis III lander contract to competitors, citing Starship delays

SpaceX/Starship HLS

Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy announced on October 20 that NASA would reopen the Artemis III Moon lander contract to other companies, citing SpaceX's Starship delays. SpaceX has held the sole contract since 2021 for $2.9 billion; the announcement framed competition as a race against China.

• SpaceX awarded Artemis III contract in 2021 for $2.9 billion.
• Duffy stated: SpaceX is behind schedule; NASA will open competition to Blue Origin and others.
• Target: return astronauts to Moon before end of Trump's term (January 2029).
• Artemis III currently planned for 2027; context: China targets crewed Moon landing by 2030.