Duffy: NASA to Reopen Artemis III HLS Contract

Space agency is ‘not going to wait’ for SpaceX’s Starship HLS if a competitor is ready first, official says.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

U.S. Transportation Secretary and interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy delivers remarks during a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) on October 6. [Courtesy: C-SPAN]

Key Takeaways:

NASA is reopening the contract for the Artemis III human landing system (HLS), originally awarded to SpaceX, due to concerns about Starship's readiness for the mission.
Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy stated the priority is to land astronauts on the moon within President Trump's current term, emphasizing a "race against China" for lunar dominance.
Despite receiving 65% of the contract payment, SpaceX's Starship HLS still faces critical developmental hurdles, including demonstrating orbital propellant transfer and an uncrewed lunar landing.
NASA is willing to consider other competitors, such as Blue Origin, if they can deliver a human landing system faster, underscoring a strategic shift to prioritize rapid lunar return and human exploration over other science missions.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary and interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy on Monday revealed a potentially seismic shakeup to the agency’s Artemis lunar landing program.

During an interview with CNBC’s Joe Kernen on Squawk Box Monday morning, Duffy said NASA will reopen a contract to build the human landing system (HLS) for the Artemis III mission, which will put American astronauts on the moon for the first time since the Apollo era.