Everyone wants to go back to the Moon, but are they really ready? NASA is losing patience with SpaceX’s plans (led by Elon Musk) and it doesn’t seem like they trust their main partner to meet the estimated deadlines (the end of the decade).
Starship is the key piece of this mission, but it’s moving slowly, very slowly, and as we said, it’s extremely important within the Artemis III program (which in theory should launch in 2027). It’s not going to happen, or at least it’s not clear for now because the billionaire’s company isn’t keeping up.
“We are in a race, and we can’t afford delays” said NASA’s acting director, Sean Duffy, referring to the fact that China is also working on setting foot on the Moon.
SpaceX under scrutiny
NASA has been closely monitoring SpaceX’s progress for months and, according to Duffy, the progress isn’t what they expected (and it hasn’t been cheap, with a contract worth 2.9 billion dollars).
Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built, yes, but also one of the most complex, and apparently, we’re not ready. Test launches are piling up, technical adjustments aren’t quite working out, and eyebrows are being raised.
Artemis III will be the first crewed lunar landing since the Apollo era, more than 50 years ago, and it requires time and strategy. But China is stepping on the gas and wants to send humans to the Moon before the end of the decade, and if Artemis is delayed, the runway is clear for them.
Blue Origin, the alternative
While SpaceX tries to solve its setbacks, Jeff Bezos (yes, the one from Amazon) is quietly moving forward with Blue Origin and its Blue Moon module, developed together with Lockheed Martin. This vehicle has shown more stable progress without so many ups and downs.
We could be looking at NASA searching for a replacement for Musk’s company, with Bezos’s becoming the main bet.
The idea is so strong that the agency has already requested new development plans from both companies before the end of the month and does not rule out opening the project to more American companies. Musk, they’re gaining ground on you, my friend.
“We want to make sure the U.S. is the first to return to the Moon, and that it does so safely and sustainably”.
Prestige, power, and reputation
2.9 billion dollars is no small sum. Winning (or losing, in this case) the position of leading space travel would mean losing international prestige (and some would even see it as a historic stain).
So SpaceX, which for years has been the brightest student in the class, will have to work hard if it truly wants to remain responsible for sending astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), because there are plenty of others in line who want a spot on that rocket.
And there’s Bezos, with a completely different image, sustainable, patient, working quietly, it could be his moment.
Artemis III
Artemis III will be iconic, as it will also take the first woman and the first Black person to the lunar surface.
That is, if they manage to get a functional lander, because it needs to be tested and ready before 2027… But as of today, that’s not guaranteed, and the days keep passing by.
More politics than technology
Of course, the tension comes from the fact that other countries also want to reach the Moon, like China, for example. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, China plays by its own rules, and if they manage to get ahead of the U.S., it would be a heavy blow to the nation’s international leadership reputation.
Moreover, whoever returns to the Moon first will lead the future of space exploration, there’s a lot at stake.
Ultimatum
NASA has a time limit, and while SpaceX is giving all it can, it’s no longer the only one being considered, Bezos is right there, waiting.
What will happen in the coming months? We’ll have to stay tuned to see who sets foot on the Moon again and who leads the next space era!