# SpaceX has a $2.9 billion contract to provide the lunar lander astronauts would ride to the moon’s surface.

*aerospace · news · 2025-10-20 · Cable News Network*

## Key points

- NASA may open its lunar lander contract to companies beyond SpaceX due to schedule delays.
- SpaceX's Starship vehicle has experienced three in-flight failures and limited suborbital successes as of 2025.
- NASA has asked SpaceX and Blue Origin for accelerated development approaches, with a deadline of October 29.
- NASA plans to issue an RFI to the commercial space industry to find alternative lunar landing solutions.
- In-orbit refueling, needed by Starship and Blue Moon, has never been attempted and could cause further delays.

**Companies:** SpaceX, Blue Origin, Dynetics
**Countries:** United States, China

[Read the full story on Cable News Network](https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/20/science/nasa-spacex-moon-landing-contract-sean-duffy)

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