NASA Considers Blue Origin as SpaceX Delays Moon Landing Timeline
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – October 20, 2025 – Facing mounting pressure to accelerate lunar exploration and counter china’s rapidly advancing space program, NASA is exploring options beyond SpaceX for its Artemis III mission, potentially turning to Jeff Bezos’ Blue origin as a backup plan. The move comes amid concerns that SpaceX is falling behind schedule in developing the necessary technology to land astronauts on the Moon.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, currently serving as acting administrator of NASA, revealed the agency’s contingency planning during a CNBC interview Monday. Duffy expressed confidence in SpaceX but acknowledged notable delays, stating, “I love SpaceX. It’s a fantastic company. The problem is, they’re late. They pushed back their deadlines, and we are in a race against China.”
The situation underscores the intensifying “second space race” between the United States and China,reminiscent of the Cold War competition sparked by the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik in 1957. A successful Chinese lunar landing before the U.S.would represent a significant geopolitical and technological setback for America. The Trump governance has made a return to the Moon a key priority, with a stated goal of establishing a sustained lunar presence.
“The president and I want to go to the Moon during our term,” Duffy emphasized. “We’re not going to wait for just one company. We’re going to get things done and win the second space race against the Chinese. Return to the Moon,set up a camp,a base.”
NASA’s consideration of Blue Origin follows the successful inaugural launch of the company’s New Glenn rocket on January 16, 2025, a milestone demonstrating blue Origin’s growing capabilities in space launch technology. While SpaceX remains the primary contractor for the Artemis program’s lunar lander,NASA is now actively “opening up” contracts to ensure a viable path to achieving its lunar ambitions. The agency has not yet announced a firm timeline for a decision regarding blue Origin’s potential involvement.
