NASA Opening Up SpaceX Moon Landing Contract to Competition
NASA is opening up the contract for putting astronauts on the moon to competition, signaling potential issues with SpaceX's Starship spacecraft development. The space agency aims to have multiple providers for the lunar landing services, moving away from the sole-source contract it had awarded to SpaceX in 2021. This decision comes amid delays and setbacks in the development of Starship, which is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program to return humans to the moon. By opening the contract to competition, NASA hopes to diversify its options and ensure the success of the Artemis missions. This move reflects the agency's desire to maintain flexibility and mitigate risks associated with relying on a single provider for such a crucial undertaking. The competition is expected to encourage innovation and drive down costs, ultimately benefiting the Artemis program and NASA's exploration goals.
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