SpaceX is behind schedule, so NASA will open Artemis III contract to competition

Steven

SpaceX is behind schedule, so NASA will open Artemis III contract to competition

Summary

NASA’s Acting Administrator has acknowledged that SpaceX is behind schedule on developing the Human Landing System (HLS) variant of Starship and has reopened the Artemis III lunar-lander contract to competition. The agency has pushed the likely crewed lunar landing out towards the end of 2028 — possibly January 2029 — instead of earlier targets. While NASA praised SpaceX’s accomplishments, officials said the programme must meet timelines aimed at beating China to the Moon and named Blue Origin and “maybe others” as potential alternatives. SpaceX earlier won the HLS contract in 2021 but has faced delays and safety concerns after several unplanned Starship explosions and limited test flights. Funding and schedule pressures mean NASA may need to seek other providers or additional resources to meet the new deadline.

Key Points

  • NASA has publicly stated SpaceX is “behind schedule” on the Starship-based Human Landing System and has reopened the Artemis III lander competition.
  • The Artemis III crewed lunar landing target has slipped from earlier dates to late 2028 or January 2029.
  • Blue Origin and other contractors are now explicitly being considered as alternatives to SpaceX for the lunar landing.
  • SpaceX won the original HLS contract in 2021, but legal challenges and technical setbacks have delayed progress.
  • NASA faces funding and safety scrutiny that could affect its ability to land astronauts within the current US presidential term.

Why should I read this?

Because this story changes the Moon race: NASA’s lost a bit of patience with SpaceX and has opened the door for rivals. If you care about who’s actually going to put astronauts back on the Moon (and when), this is the shortcut — contracts, timelines and politics just got more interesting.

Context and relevance

This announcement matters for industry, policy and international competition. SpaceX’s delays highlight technical and safety hurdles for Starship’s HLS variant, while NASA’s decision to reopen competition signals a shift toward risk mitigation and timetable realism. The move affects suppliers, congressional budget debates and NASA’s strategy to outpace other nations in lunar exploration. It also underscores broader trends: increased reliance on commercial partners, the fragility of aggressive schedules, and the importance of diversified contractors for crewed spaceflight resilience.

Source

Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/21/spacex_is_behind_schedule_so/