Transportation Secretary and acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy said on Monday (October 20) that SpaceX is falling behind schedule in the US plan to return astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis program.
Duff, speaking to CNBC, said the government would open the lunar contract to other companies to ensure the US maintains its lead in what he described as a “second space race” with China.
SpaceX facing delays
Duffy said SpaceX, which holds the Artemis III lunar landing contract, has pushed back its project timelines, prompting concerns about delays. “They push their timelines out, 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 up the contracts.”
While Duffy praised the company’s achievements, h