New NASA Lunar Contest Could Pit Elon Musk Against Jeff Bezos
The United States is intensifying its efforts to return astronauts to the Moon, facing rising competition from China for lunar dominance. In a surprising twist, NASA has now opened the lunar lander contract previously held by SpaceX to new bids, igniting competition within the American private space industry itself.
Renewed Competition Among U.S. Space Firms
The decision may set up a new rivalry between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. NASA hopes that by reopening the contract, it can accelerate innovation and ensure success in the next phase of lunar exploration under the Artemis program.
In April 2021, SpaceX won the initial contract to develop a lunar lander for Artemis III — the mission set to mark the first American return to the Moon’s surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. The design was based on SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft, developed in Texas.
Progress and Setbacks for SpaceX
Since 2023, SpaceX has carried out eleven Starship test flights. While the launches in August and October 2025 achieved success, three earlier attempts ended unsuccessfully, with failures occurring in the ship’s upper stage meant to carry astronauts.
“The dust-up over the lunar lander could pit Elon Musk against his billionaire rival Jeff Bezos.”
As China pursues an ambitious lunar agenda, pressure on SpaceX to demonstrate consistent success is mounting. According to NASA’s acting chief Sean Duffy, opening the contract allows the agency to strengthen its position while expanding opportunities for multiple contractors.
On October 20, Sean Duffy announced that he was opening up SpaceX’s US$4 billion lunar lander contract to competition.
The decision has sparked a heated exchange between Musk and Duffy, revealing tensions within NASA about its future direction and leadership in space exploration.
Author’s Summary
NASA’s reopening of its lunar lander contract fuels a new Musk-Bezos rivalry, reflecting America’s drive to outpace China in the renewed race to the Moon.