This comes as NASA faces intense political pressure and internal turbulence. The agency is still without a permanent administrator, and the Trump administration’s recent budget reshuffles have heightened uncertainty about staffing and timelines.
As Duffy put it, “We’re not in a race against ourselves anymore. China has made it clear they’re aiming to plant their flag on the Moon first.”
Former Teacher Abigail Zwerner Seeks $40 Million in Lawsuit Against Assistant Principal – USA Herald
Starship’s Challenges and Achievements
SpaceX currently holds a $2.9 billion NASA contract to develop the Starship lunar lander for Artemis III. Despite several setbacks, the company reports major progress, including 11 Starship test launches and milestones achieved in its test-to-failure campaign.
Looking ahead, SpaceX’s focus is on a crucial in-space refueling demonstration, a key step toward making Starship capable of reaching the Moon. The process—never before attempted—requires multiple Starship “tanker” flights to refuel a Moon-bound Starship while in orbit.
