SpaceX could lose contract for Artemis 3 astronaut moon-landing mission, acting NASA chief says: 'The problem is, they're behind'

 Hey, Space Placers!

The Blue Moon lunar lander is being developed by Blue Origin with the aim to contribute to future space exploration. 

(Image credit: Blue Origin)

IT'S ABOUT TIME NASA DID THIS!  NASA needs another lunar landing option other than SpaceX .

NASA has opened up the original contact to SpaceX for the Artemis Human Landing System (HLS) which was originally designated to use a SpaceX Starship to land Artemis III astronauts on the Moon.

But the Starship program is not proceeding fast enough to meet the projected landing date by mid 2027 while China has targeted 2030 for its own crewed Moon landing.

Consider this. SpaceX has to get full certification from NASA for the following Artemis III mission elements: 

Refueling of the lunar bound Starship in Low Earth Orbit using 20 tankers over a month's time; 

Safely getting to lunar orbit and landing on the Moon; 

Safely performing lunar liftoff and return to Earth; 

Safe re-entry in Earth's atmosphere FROM THE MOON and landing at a designated location. 

THAT IS A LOT TO ACCOMPLISH IN ESSENTIALLY TWO YEARS!

Only time will tell who gets humans to the South Pole of the Moon first.

Sky Guy Anchored In Halifax, Nova Scotia