New Nasa lunar contest could pit Elon Musk against Jeff Bezos, as US fears China will win race to Moon

New NASA Lunar Contest Could Pitch Elon Musk Against Jeff Bezos

The US space agency has reopened competition for the lunar lander contract, previously held by SpaceX. The United States and China are vying to be the first nation in fifty years to send humans to the Moon.

A fresh rivalry is emerging between American companies seeking to build the lunar landing vehicle that could secure the Moon race victory for the US. This contest may set Elon Musk against billionaire Jeff Bezos.

Tensions Between SpaceX and NASA Leadership

The dispute over the lunar lander contract has sparked a public disagreement between Musk and NASA’s acting chief, Sean Duffy, highlighting divisions over the agency’s leadership and strategic direction.

SpaceX’s Artemis III Contribution

In April 2021, SpaceX was awarded the contract to develop the lander for NASA’s Artemis III mission, aimed at returning astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The planned vehicle is based on SpaceX's innovative Starship, which is under development at their South Texas facility.

Since April 2023, SpaceX has conducted 11 test flights of Starship. While launches in August and October 2025 succeeded, the preceding three flights failed during the upper stage, or "ship," which is designed to carry astronauts.

Growing Pressure Amid China’s Advancements

As China advances its efforts to dominate lunar exploration, pressure has intensified on SpaceX to accelerate progress, despite milestones being somewhat subjective.

"On October 20, Sean Duffy announced that he was opening up SpaceX’s US$4..."
Author's Summary

This unfolding contest between SpaceX and rival companies reflects growing urgency within the US space program against China's rising lunar ambitions.

Would you like a more detailed breakdown of the companies competing or further information on NASA’s Artemis program?

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The Conversation The Conversation — 2025-11-01

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