NASA Seeks New Bidders for Artemis 3 Moon Mission Amid SpaceX Delays

NASA is opening the Artemis 3 Moon landing contract to other companies due to delays by SpaceX. Initially, SpaceX was selected to carry out the 2027 mission using its Starship lander. However, SpaceX has experienced mounting delays, prompting NASA to seek competition from other U.S. companies. NASA Administrator Sean Duffy mentioned that companies like Blue Origin might get involved, aiming to foster a “space race” among American firms to return astronauts to the Moon ahead of China’s planned 2030 mission. 

The decision to open the contract comes amid concerns from President Trump, who wants the mission completed before the end of his term in January 2029. Meanwhile, Artemis 2—a 10-day lunar flyby mission using systems from Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin—remains on track for an April 2026 launch, possibly moving up to February. 

The delay in Artemis 3 has sparked political and industrial tensions, including reported conversations between President Trump and Blue Origin founders due to a rift with Elon Musk, despite Musk’s prior support of Trump’s 2024 campaign.