NASA: SpaceX, Blue Origin Submit Revised Moon Mission Proposals

SpaceX is proactively addressing concerns about potential delays in its lunar lander development for NASA’s Artemis III mission, proposing a “simplified mission” architecture to the space agency. This move comes after NASA’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy, publicly voiced concerns suggesting the agency might consider reopening the lunar landing contract for the Artemis III mission to competition, potentially including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

In a recent company blog post, SpaceX stated: “We’ve shared and are formally assessing a simplified mission architecture and concept of operations that we believe will result in a faster return to the Moon while simultaneously improving crew safety.” This streamlined approach signals SpaceX’s commitment to meeting NASA’s objectives within the stipulated timeframe.

Earlier this month, Duffy, in an interview, raised concerns about SpaceX’s progress on the lunar landing system, prompting speculation about the agency seeking alternative solutions.

A NASA spokesperson confirmed that the agency “has received and is evaluating plans from both SpaceX and Blue Origin for acceleration of HLS production.” The evaluation process involves assembling a committee of NASA subject matter experts to assess each proposal, aiming to expedite the return to the Moon. Interestingly, NASA seems to frame their decision to be a response to adversarial threats towards the US’ dominance in space.

NASA had set a deadline of October 29th for both SpaceX and Blue Origin to present revised plans for accelerating the project.

The exchange highlights the intense pressure on SpaceX to deliver. Elon Musk initially responded to Duffy’s comments with strong reactions, reflecting the high stakes involved in the Artemis program.

SpaceX’s Starship, central to its lunar ambitions, has undergone 11 uncrewed test flights. While the recent two flights were considered successful, a key hurdle remains: demonstrating in-orbit refueling capabilities, essential for the Artemis III manned lunar mission.

Blue Origin, meanwhile, is also actively developing a lunar lander under contract with NASA, receiving approximately $835 million since 2023. The company is pursuing a parallel development path with its Blue Moon Mark 1 lander, offering a potentially more incremental approach.

The urgency behind the Artemis program is further amplified by China’s ambitious lunar ambitions. China aims to land astronauts on the moon by the end of the decade, intensifying the global space race.

Duffy emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in space exploration, particularly in light of China’s advancements.

Adding to the global space landscape, China is actively expanding its capabilities with a new crew headed to its Tiangong space station. This independent space station underscores China’s commitment to establishing a permanent presence in orbit, especially after being excluded from the International Space Station due to U.S. national security concerns.

SpaceX’s financial arrangement with NASA is milestone-based, with payments tied to specific achievements in the HLS (human landing system) development. According to data tracking federal contracts, NASA has disbursed approximately $2.7 billion to SpaceX for the HLS program, covering “design, development, manufacture, test, launch, demonstration and engineering support.” An additional $300 million is earmarked for milestones already achieved, with a potential total earning of $4.5 billion, contingent upon fulfilling all contract milestones.

SpaceX claims to have “self-funded” a substantial portion of the Starship program, estimating over 90% of the program costs. This suggests a substantial investment by the company, implying expenditures exceeding $30 billion to date. The high capital expenditure underscores both the scale of the Starship project and SpaceX’s commitment to its long-term vision of lunar and interplanetary travel.

Previously, it was reported that some NASA employees involved in Artemis missions were required to work without pay during the recent federal government shutdown, highlighting the unwavering commitment to the program despite budgetary constraints.

SpaceX and Blue Origin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.