SpaceX’s plan to land NASA astronauts on the moon for Artemis III is on shaky ground after the space agency’s head announced plans to open the $4.4 billion contract to other companies.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is also acting NASA administrator, said on television Monday that NASA would reopen production of the Artemis III lunar lander, specifically name dropping Blue Origin.
[WATCH: NASA presps for Artemis II launch in 2026]
“SpaceX has the contract to build the HLS which will get U.S. astronauts there on Artemis III,” Duffy posted on X.com. “But, competition and innovation are the keys to our dominance in space so @NASA is opening up HLS production to Blue Origin and other great American companies."
While the Space Launch System Rocket will take astronauts to the moon on Artemis III, it’s SpaceX’s Starship that was supposed to serve as the mission’s lunar lander.
We are in a race against China so we need the best companies to operate at a speed that gets us to the Moon FIRST.
— NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy (@SecDuffyNASA) October 20, 2025
SpaceX has the contract to build the HLS which will get U.S. astronauts there on Artemis III.
But, competition and innovation are the keys to our dominance in… pic.twitter.com/dAo0so5qqZ
However, Duffy pointed out on CNBC Monday, Starship is behind, and Duffy says he and President Trump are trying to get ahead of China to the moon, preferably during Trump’s term.
“Whatever one can get us to the moon, we’re gonna take,” Duffy said.
The post drew an quick response from X and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
“Blue Origin has never delivered a payload to orbit, let alone the Moon,” he posted.
SpaceX completed its 11th test flight for Starship earlier this month, with the rocket flying halfway around the world before landing in the Indian Ocean.
[WATCH: SpaceX launches 11th test of Starship mega rocket]
Duffy praised Starship’s success at the time.
“Another major step toward landing Americans on the moon’s south pole,” he said via X.
But Starship has also been plagued by a string of explosive failures that has been detrimental to the timeline for the Artemis missions.
Artemis II is projected to launch in 2026 and take four astronauts to lunar obit.
The timeline for Artemis III has been pushed back now to 2027 at least, in part because of delays with Starship, which has not flown a full mission yet.
A number of companies are developing or had plans for lunar landers, including Blue Origin, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.