NASA's new boss says the race is on between SpaceX and Blue Origin to build a moon lander

"On his first day in the job, Jared Isaacman said the space agency would pick whichever company finished its moon lander first, out of Musk's SpaceX or Bezos' Blue Origin. "I don't think it was lost on either vendor that whichever lander was available first to ensure that America achieves its strategic objectives on the moon is the one we were going to go with," Isaacman told Bloomberg TV on Thursday, a day after he was confirmed as NASA administrator by the US Senate."

"A modified version of SpaceX's massive Starship rocket is set to be used in 2027 for NASA's Artemis III mission, which aims to put astronauts back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years. In October, however, then-acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy reopened SpaceX's lunar contract, stating that the company was "behind schedule" on its lander and suggesting that NASA could opt for Blue Origin's spacecraft for the historic mission instead."

Jared Isaacman said NASA will select whichever company—SpaceX or Blue Origin—completes a lunar lander first to support crewed moon missions. Both companies hold contracts to deliver landers that can carry astronauts to the lunar surface, with a modified SpaceX Starship planned for Artemis III in 2027. In October, then-acting administrator Sean Duffy reopened SpaceX's lunar contract, citing delays and suggesting Blue Origin could be chosen instead. Isaacman flew on two private SpaceX missions and took part in the first commercial spacewalk. Political tensions affected Isaacman's nomination earlier in the year.

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