NASA's acting administrator Sean Duffy announced plans to broaden the competition for developing a human lunar lander, citing delays by SpaceX and the need to beat China to the Moon. The move acknowledges that the agency's 2027 crewed landing target is unachievable. Duffy's statements came during television appearances aimed at securing his leadership role.
On October 20, 2025, NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy, who also serves as Secretary of Transportation, appeared on Fox News and made two television announcements shaking up the agency's Artemis program. He stated that SpaceX has fallen behind in developing its Starship vehicle as a human landing system (HLS), indirectly confirming that NASA's goal of a 2027 crewed lunar landing is no longer feasible.
Duffy explained the shift by emphasizing presidential priorities. “They’re behind schedule, and so the President wants to make sure we beat the Chinese,” he said of SpaceX. “He wants to get there in his term. So I’m in the process of opening that contract up. I think we’ll see companies like Blue [Origin] get involved, and maybe others. We’re going to have a space race in regard to American companies competing to see who can actually lead us back to the Moon first.”
This builds on existing contracts: SpaceX received $2.9 billion in April 2021 to adapt Starship for HLS, working with NASA's Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. Blue Origin secured a $3.4 billion contract in 2023 for a second lander, though neither has demonstrated large-scale in-space refueling required for their designs.
Duffy's plan likely involves Blue Origin's alternative using multiple Mk 1 cargo landers, which avoid refueling and are set for a debut flight in early 2026. Traditional firms, such as Lockheed Martin, have also expressed readiness. “Throughout this year, Lockheed Martin has been performing significant technical and programmatic analysis for human lunar landers that would provide options to NASA for a safe solution to return humans to the Moon as quickly as possible,” said Bob Behnken, vice president of Exploration and Technology Strategy at Lockheed Martin Space. Officials claim such an Apollo-style lander could be ready in 30 months, but it would require new congressional funding estimated at $20 billion to $30 billion.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk responded defiantly on X: “SpaceX is moving like lightning compared to the rest of the space industry. Moreover, Starship will end up doing the whole Moon mission. Mark my words.”
The announcements' timing appears tied to Duffy's interim role, appointed by President Trump in July 2025 after rescinding Jared Isaacman's nomination. Amid growing support for Isaacman, Duffy's actions signal efforts to demonstrate progress on lunar goals before Trump's term ends in January 2029, while facing criticism for not implementing proposed Artemis reforms.