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NASA to Re-Open Bidding for Lunar Missions Following SpaceX Delays
WASHINGTON – NASA will relaunch its tender process for upcoming Moon missions after SpaceX announced delays, potentially opening the door for increased competition in the Artemis program.The move comes amid growing concerns about keeping pace wiht China’s lunar ambitions and a renewed push for faster progress under a potential second Trump administration.
Administrator and Minister of Transport Sean Duffy announced the decision monday, stating, “I love SpaceX.It’s an incredible company. The problem is they’re late. They’ve pushed back their deadlines and we’re competing with China.” Duffy emphasized the need for a competitive environment, adding, “We are going to have a space race in the sense of a competition between American companies to see who can get us back to the Moon first.”
The Artemis program, initiated during Donald Trump’s first term, aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually reach Mars.Trump has publicly stated his desire to see a return to the Moon before his presidential term ends in January 2029.
NASA’s decision to re-open bidding is expected to draw interest from companies like Blue Origin, the space venture founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, which is currently working on the fifth mission of the Artemis program.
The proclamation follows multiple delays to key Artemis missions. The Artemis 2 mission, a crewed flyby of the Moon, is now scheduled for April 2026 at the latest, NASA reaffirmed last month.Artemis 3, intended to land astronauts on the lunar surface, is currently slated for mid-2027.
duffy underscored the urgency, stating, “We need the best companies to advance at a pace that gets us back to the Moon first.” He added on social media, “competition and innovation are the keys to our space domination.”
