NASA may reassess its partnership with SpaceX for the upcoming Artemis 3 mission, which aims to return astronauts to the moon for the first time in over 50 years. The agency’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy, announced on October 20, 2023, that the current pace of SpaceX’s Starship development has prompted a review of the contract originally awarded to the company in April 2021. This contract, valued at $2.9 billion, was intended for the development of the first crewed lunar lander for the Artemis program.
Duffy expressed concerns during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” stating, “I love SpaceX; it’s an amazing company. The problem is, they’re behind.” He emphasized the urgency of the mission, highlighting a competitive landscape with China’s own lunar ambitions. “The president and I want to get to the moon in this president’s term, so I’m gonna open up the contract,” he added, indicating that other companies, including Blue Origin, would be invited to compete for the opportunity.
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, secured its own $3.4 billion Artemis Human Landing System contract in 2023. This contract is intended for the company’s Blue Moon lander, which is expected to undertake its crewed lunar mission during the Artemis 5 mission. In response to Duffy’s comments, Musk expressed skepticism about Blue Origin’s capacity to meet the timeline, stating, “Blue Origin has never delivered a payload to orbit, let alone the moon.”
The timeline for Artemis 3 has experienced multiple delays, influenced not just by the progress of SpaceX’s Starship but also by challenges related to spacesuit development and NASA’s Orion spacecraft. Originally slated for a launch in late 2024, the date has shifted to 2025, then to September 2026, and now appears to be set for 2028, according to Duffy’s recent remarks.
Current Status of the Artemis Program
NASA’s Artemis program has already achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of Artemis 1, which sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft to and from lunar orbit in late 2022. The agency is now preparing for Artemis 2, which will carry four astronauts on a ten-day journey around the moon. Duffy confirmed that this mission is on track for launch as early as February 2024.
SpaceX’s Starship has conducted a total of 11 suborbital test flights, with the latest two launches occurring on August 26 and October 13, 2023. Both flights were deemed fully successful, although the spacecraft is still in the testing phase.
As NASA navigates the complexities of its lunar mission, it faces increasing pressure from international competitors. China has announced its intention to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, making significant progress towards this goal. With no humans having set foot on the lunar surface since December 1972, the urgency of the Artemis program continues to grow.
The future of Artemis 3 and the collaboration with SpaceX remains uncertain, but Duffy’s comments suggest that NASA is determined to ensure the mission’s success through competitive bidding and rigorous timelines.
