New Nasa lunar contest could pit Elon Musk against Jeff Bezos, as US fears China will win race to Moon

New NASA Lunar Contest Could Pit Elon Musk Against Jeff Bezos

The US space agency has reopened the lunar lander contract, previously held by SpaceX, to new competition. The United States and China are engaged in an intense race to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in over fifty years. A fresh rivalry is also taking shape among American companies aiming to design the lander that could secure victory for the US in this renewed Moon race.

Corporate Rivalry and NASA Challenges

The new bidding process could place Elon Musk directly against Jeff Bezos, reigniting tensions between two of America’s most influential tech entrepreneurs. The decision has already stirred a sharp exchange between Musk and NASA’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy, revealing deeper disagreements about the agency’s strategic direction and leadership.

Background on the Artemis Contract

In April 2021, SpaceX received a contract to build the lunar landing system for NASA’s Artemis III mission — the program intended to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The lander design was based on the company’s Starship vehicle, which was already undergoing development at its Texas site.

Testing and Recent Progress

Since April 2023, SpaceX has conducted eleven Starship test flights. Two key launches in August and October 2025 succeeded, while three earlier attempts failed due to issues with the upper stage, or “ship,” meant to carry astronauts safely to and from the lunar surface.

Pressure from China’s Lunar Ambitions

As China advances its own lunar program, pressure has grown on SpaceX and NASA to accelerate development. The United States views China’s rapid progress as a challenge to its leadership in space exploration, prompting renewed urgency in NASA’s lunar strategy.

“With China mounting a formidable bid for supremacy on the Moon, pressure was growing on SpaceX to make greater progress,” said Sean Duffy during a briefing on October 20.

Outlook

Duffy’s announcement to reopen SpaceX’s $4 billion lunar contract marks a major shift in NASA’s approach, potentially reshaping the next phase of the Artemis program and the broader competition for lunar dominance.

Author’s summary: NASA has reopened its lunar lander contract, reigniting the race between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos as the US and China compete for leadership on the Moon.

The Conversation — 2025-11-01