NASA Reopens Artemis III Lander to Competition

NASA said it will reopen competitive bidding for the Artemis III human landing system, revisiting a roughly $4 billion award previously made to SpaceX after delays in Starship development. Acting NASA Administrator and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said SpaceX has fallen behind on critical Starship milestones — including a full orbital flight, in‑orbit refueling and a high cadence of launches — and that the administration wants to beat China to the Moon in this presidential term. NASA named potential challengers including Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin and is examining specific alternatives such as human‑rating Blue Origin’s Mark 1 cargo lander and revisiting Dynetics’ ALPACA concept, with other U.S. firms like Rocket Lab and Intuitive Machines also potential bidders. The announcement prompted an intense public dispute: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk defended Starship on X while attacking Duffy, and some experts warned reopening the contract could add cost and complexity even as NASA says competition could strengthen U.S. leadership. The move underscores growing schedule pressure on Artemis III, which had been targeted for 2027 and is linked to broader concerns about U.S. readiness versus China’s lunar ambitions.