NASA would not quickly have the ability to rip up its existing HLS agreements with SpaceX and Blue Origin, as particularly with the previous much of the financing has actually currently been granted for turning point payments. Rather, Duffy would likely need to discover brand-new financing from Congress. And it would not be inexpensive. This NASA analysis, from 2017, approximates that a cost-plus, sole-source lunar lander would cost $20 billion to $30 billion, or almost 10 times what NASA granted to SpaceX in 2021.

SpaceX creator Elon Musk, reacting to Duffy’s remarks, appeared to delight in the difficulty postured by market rivals.

“SpaceX is moving like lightning compared to the remainder of the area market,” Musk stated on the social networks website he owns, X. “Moreover, Starship will wind up doing the entire Moon objective. Mark my words.”

The timing

Duffy’s remarks on tv on Monday early morning, although considerable for the wider area neighborhood, likewise appeared meant for an audience of one– President Trump.

The president selected Duffy, currently leading the Department of Transportation, to lead NASA on an interim basis in July. This came 6 weeks after the president rescinded his election of billionaire and personal astronaut Jared Isaacman, for political factors, to lead the area company.

Trump was under the impression that Duffy would utilize this time to support NASA’s management while likewise trying to find an irreversible chief of the area firm. Duffy appears to have actually not paid more than lip service to discovering a follower.

Given that late summer season there has actually been a groundswell of assistance for Isaacman in the White House, and amongst some members of Congress. The billionaire has actually met Trump a number of times, both at the White House and Mar-a-Lago, and sources report that the 2 have a great relationship. There has actually been some momentum towards the president re-nominating Isaacman, with Trump possibly deciding quickly. Duffy’s television looks on Monday early morning seem part of an effort to prevent this momentum by revealing Trump he is actively pursuing a lunar landing throughout his 2nd term, which ends in January 2029.