【By Zhang Jingjuan, Observer Net】Amid the anxiety of the new U.S. space race, NASA's moon landing program may face a "last-minute change of personnel" scenario.

According to CNN, on October 20, Sean Duffy, the acting administrator of NASA and the Secretary of Transportation, publicly criticized SpaceX in two programs for being behind schedule, stating that he would open up competition for the lunar contract to achieve human return to the moon before China. In response, SpaceX founder Musk immediately retaliated, saying, "Compared to other companies, SpaceX is moving like lightning. 'Starship' will eventually complete the entire lunar mission."

SpaceX is one of several contractors participating in NASA's Artemis mission, which aims to achieve "the first long-term human presence on the Moon" and prepare for Mars exploration missions. In 2021, SpaceX won a $2.9 billion contract to provide a crewed lunar landing system for the "Artemis III" mission.

According to the official schedule, the lunar mission was planned to send astronauts to the Moon in 2027. However, the giant lunar rocket "Starship" developed by SpaceX is still in its early stages, with three flight failures since 2025, and only a few successful suborbital test flights have been completed.

On Monday morning, Duffy emphasized during an interview with CNBC that SpaceX's progress is behind schedule, which could hinder NASA's goal of achieving a human return to the Moon before China in the new space race.

"They keep pushing back the timeline, and we are competing with China. Both the president and I hope to achieve a moon landing within this presidential term, so I will open up this contract to allow other space companies to compete with SpaceX," Duffy hinted that Blue Origin might replace SpaceX in the "Artemis III" mission.

He did not hide his expectations for Blue Origin, saying, "If SpaceX is behind schedule but Blue Origin can finish it before them, then Blue Origin does well. But we won't wait for just one company. We will advance this work and win the second round of the space race with China. Return to the Moon, establish a camp, build a base."

Duffy, screenshot from video

That day, Duffy reiterated on the "Fox & Friends" program that he "is advancing the process of opening the lunar mission contract."

Currently, Blue Origin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are all supporting NASA's Artemis program. However, Duffy warned that NASA may open competition to more suppliers who have not yet received contracts.

Notably, Duffy also posted on the social platform "X" stating, "SpaceX has signed a contract to build the HLS (human landing system) and will send American astronauts to the Moon in the 'Artemis III' mission. However, competition and innovation are key to maintaining our dominance in space, and NASA is opening up HLS production to Blue Origin and other American companies."

Musk commented, "Blue Origin has never put a payload into orbit, let alone the Moon." He then added, "There is a useful payload." He said that compared to other companies, SpaceX's progress is like lightning. "In addition, 'Starship' will ultimately complete the entire lunar mission. Remember what I said."

Meanwhile, Blue Origin responded to CNN's request for comment by stating only, "We are ready to provide support," without revealing specific progress.

According to reports, to save the lunar mission, NASA has asked SpaceX and Blue Origin to submit accelerated plans for developing the lunar module by October 29.

NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens stated in a statement, "The goal of President Trump and Director Duffy is to return to the Moon before China. That's why they are leveraging the strength of the U.S. space industry to seek more lunar solutions."

Since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, no American astronaut has set foot on the lunar surface. In 2017, the United States proposed the "Artemis" plan to return to the Moon, and in 2022, it completed the first uncrewed lunar orbit test. According to NASA's initial plan, the "Artemis III" mission should have taken place in 2024. However, NASA announced last year that the "Artemis II" mission would be postponed to April 2026, and the "Artemis III" mission would be postponed to 2027.

CNN previously reported that the "Artemis III" mission is extremely complex. According to the current roadmap, the "Artemis III" mission will first launch a "Starship" spacecraft equipped with only basic systems as a "gas station." This spacecraft will remain in orbit and dock with subsequent launches of "Starship" carrying only propellant, receiving propellant.

After the "gas station" is filled, SpaceX will launch a crewed "Starship" spacecraft, known as the "Starship HLS," equipped with all systems necessary to support life. The "Starship HLS" will dock with the "gas station," refuel, and then head to the Moon.

At the same time, NASA will launch the "Space Launch System" (SLS) rocket to send the "Orion" spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts into space. After the "Orion" spacecraft separates from the rocket, it will travel to the Moon independently and then dock with the "Starship" lander in lunar orbit. Then, two astronauts will transfer to the "Starship HLS" and land on the Moon's south pole.

About a week later, the NASA astronauts who landed on the Moon will return to lunar orbit aboard the "Starship HLS" and re-dock with the "Orion" spacecraft. The "Orion" will bring the astronauts back to Earth and finally splash down in the Pacific Ocean.

The NASA aerospace safety advisory group recently stated that the performance of the "Starship" in the next six months will directly affect the progress of the crewed lunar module. If the test flights are not optimistic, the crewed lunar module based on the second stage of the "Starship" may not be available as planned in 2027, and the delivery may be delayed by several years.

Local time October 13, 2025, Texas, USA, SpaceX's new heavy-lift rocket "Starship" launches into space for its 11th test flight. IC photo

Compared to the noise and chaos of the U.S. space program, China's lunar exploration program has progressed steadily and smoothly, with steady progress in manned moon landing development, having conducted multiple lunar orbiting detection and sample collection missions, laying the foundation for the first Chinese landing on the Moon before 2030.

On April 23 this year, Lin Xiqiang, the spokesperson for China's Manned Space Program and deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, stated that the research and development work for China's manned moon landing mission is progressing smoothly, with the Long March 10 carrier rocket, Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, Lanyue lunar landing vehicle, Wangyu lunar suit, and exploration lunar rover all conducting preliminary prototype testing according to plan. The lunar remote sensing satellite has completed project initiation and competitive selection, and the ground system development and construction work for the launch site, tracking and control communication, and landing site are proceeding according to plan.

In August and September, the Long March 10 series carrier rocket completed two tethered ignition tests at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, achieving important阶段性 breakthroughs.

Previously, China National Space Administration Director Shan Zhongde stated that China's lunar exploration program has always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful use, and win-win cooperation, sharing development achievements with the international community. China will continue to open up international applications for lunar research samples, and we look forward to scientists around the world gaining more scientific discoveries, jointly expanding human cognition, and benefiting all mankind.

This article is an exclusive article by Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563552297394782729/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking the 【top/down】 button below.