SpaceX falling behind in US Moon mission, may lose Artemis contract, says Sean Duffy

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. (Reuters)

Transportation Secretary and acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy said on Monday (October 20) that SpaceX is lagging behind schedule in the United States’ plan to return astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis program.

Speaking to CNBC, Duffy said the government would consider opening the lunar contract to other private players to ensure the US maintains its lead in what he called a “second space race” with China.

“We’re not going to wait for one company,” Duffy said. “We’re going to push this forward and win the second space race against the Chinese. Get back to the Moon, set up a camp, a base.”

SpaceX facing delays

According to Mint, Duffy noted that SpaceX, which holds the Artemis III lunar landing contract, has extended its project timelines, raising concerns about possible 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 he praised SpaceX’s achievements, Duffy admitted that progress had slowed. “By the way, I love SpaceX — it’s an amazing company,” he said. “The problem is they’re behind.”

NASA eyes Blue Origin as backup

Duffy said Blue Origin could emerge as a strong contender to take over some Artemis responsibilities, as the agency evaluates options to maintain its accelerated timeline. He revealed that NASA has advanced its next Artemis mission from April 2026 to February 2026, aiming for a lunar return by 2028.

“I think the April launch can happen in early February,” Duffy told CNBC. “We’re looking to get back to the Moon in 2028 with two potential companies.”

Artemis goals and shifting deadlines

Launched during Donald Trump’s first term, the Artemis program aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon as a precursor to future Mars missions. SpaceX secured the 2021 contract to build the lunar landing system for Artemis III, expected to be the first crewed moon landing in over five decades.

However, NASA postponed several Artemis missions in December 2024, delaying the crewed orbital mission to April 2026 and the lunar landing to 2027 due to safety and technical challenges, Mint reported.

Musk-Trump tensions
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, was once a close ally of President Donald Trump, serving as the head of the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)”. But ties between the two have cooled over disagreements on Trump’s tax and spending policies.

In June, the White House withdrew Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA — a move seen as part of efforts to reduce Musk’s influence over the agency. Duffy, who already serves as Transportation Secretary, was named interim NASA chief instead.