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 United States and China are locked in a new race to return humans to the Moon — a competition not seen in half a century. Now, NASA’s latest decision has set the stage for a fresh rivalry between two of the world’s most powerful entrepreneurs.

Opening the Lunar Lander Competition

The US space agency has reopened the lunar lander contract previously awarded to SpaceX, inviting other American companies to submit proposals. This change introduces renewed competition to build the landing vehicle that could carry astronauts back to the Moon under the Artemis program.

Musk Versus Bezos: A Renewed Rivalry

The move could pit Elon Musk against his long-time rival Jeff Bezos, whose company Blue Origin has long sought a role in NASA’s lunar ambitions. The renewed contest has already stirred controversy and verbal sparring between Musk and NASA’s acting chief, Sean Duffy, revealing tension over the agency’s direction and leadership.

SpaceX’s Progress and Setbacks

In April 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to develop the Artemis III lunar lander, based on its Starship vehicle under construction in South Texas. Since April 2023, SpaceX has conducted eleven Starship flight tests. While the launches in August and October 2025 succeeded, earlier tests saw failures in the vehicle’s upper stage meant to carry astronauts.

Mounting Pressure as China Advances

As China strengthens its own lunar program, pressure has intensified on SpaceX and NASA to accelerate their progress. Although definitions of success vary, expectations are high for visible advancements in preparation for America’s return to the Moon.

“On October 20, Sean Duffy announced that he was opening up SpaceX’s US$4 billion contract.”

Author’s Summary

The reopening of NASA’s lunar contract revives a fierce rivalry between SpaceX and Blue Origin, symbolizing both America’s internal competition and its wider race against China for lunar leadership.

The Conversation — 2025-11-01