Transportation Secretary and Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said Monday (Oct. 20) that SpaceX is falling behind schedule in the U.S. plan to return astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis program. Speaking to CNBC, Duff said the government would open up the moon contract to other companies to ensure the US maintains its lead in what he described as a “second space race” with China. “We’re not going to wait for one company,” Duffy said. “We’re going to push it forward and win the second space race against the Chinese. Get back to the moon, set up a camp, a base.” SpaceX faces delays. Duffy said SpaceX, which holds the Artemis III moon landing contract, has pushed back its project timelines, prompting concerns about delays. “They’re pushing their timelines, and we’re in a race against China,” he said. “The president and I want to get to the moon in this president’s term, so I’m going to open the contracts.” While Duffy praised the company’s achievements, he made it clear that progress had stalled. “By the way, I love SpaceX — it’s a great company,” he said. “The problem is they are behind.” Blue Origin can step in. Duffy mentioned Blue Origin as a potential contender to take over key Artemis responsibilities, adding that the agency was evaluating options to keep its accelerated schedule. He revealed that NASA has moved up its next Artemis mission from April 2026 to February 2026, with the goal of returning to the lunar surface by 2028. “I think the April launch could happen in early February,” Duffy said. “We want to go back to the moon in 2028 with two potential companies.” Artemis and delays The Artemis program, launched during Donald Trump’s first term, aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. SpaceX won the 2021 contract to provide the lunar landing system for Artemis III, the first planned lunar landing in more than 50 years. However, in December 2024, NASA postponed several Artemis missions, moving the next manned orbiter mission to April 2026 and delaying the lunar landing until 2027 due to safety concerns and technical challenges. Musk-Trump Tension SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was once a close ally of President Donald Trump, who served as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But relations have cooled in recent months amid disputes over Trump’s tax and spending bill, which Musk has criticized. In June, the White House withdrew Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA — a move widely seen as part of the administration’s effort to distance the space agency from Musk’s influence. Duffy, who had already been confirmed as Transportation Secretary, was instead appointed interim NASA chief.
NASA interim chief Sean Duffy says US will open Moon contract as SpaceX falls behind Artemis schedule
