Confidential Report Indicates SpaceX Starship Delays Will Postpone NASA’s Lunar Return

NASA’s eagerly awaited Artemis III mission, designed to bring astronauts back to the Moon, is facing significant delays. A confidential document reveals that SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, essential for touching down on the lunar surface, won’t be operational until no earlier than 2028, missing the previous mid-2027 deadline by a year.

Initially, NASA’s goal was to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024 as part of the Artemis initiative, though that timeline has been pushed back multiple times. The crewed landing was rescheduled for 2027, but current developments suggest this target is now unlikely to be met. The confidential document indicates Starship won’t be ready until September 2028, putting the Artemis III mission in jeopardy.

Starship Faces Technical Hurdles Amid Tight Deadlines

SpaceX has gained fame for its quick advances and bold space projects, but its contributions to Artemis have encountered setbacks.

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The leaked document, obtained by Politico, highlights that the Starship lunar lander is substantially behind schedule. It now aims for readiness in September 2028, over a year after NASA’s initial target of mid-2027. These delays stem largely from technical challenges, including unsuccessful tests earlier this year.

SpaceX still must demonstrate critical processes like in-orbit refueling, expected by June 2026, and execute an uncrewed lunar landing planned for June 2027. These milestones are vital to guarantee mission safety, given that landing astronauts and returning them safely is the mission’s most complex aspect. While Starship has achieved some successful test flights, it’s not yet ready for crewed missions.

SpaceX’s new tentative schedule for HLS, per internal document I obtained:
– Prop transfer June 2026
– Uncrewed lunar landing June 2027
– Crewed lunar landing Sept 2028

First in POLITICO Pro space newsletter👇 pic.twitter.com/AY5O9vFACv
— Audrey Decker (@audrey_decker9) November 14, 2025

NASA Explores Alternative Partners Amid Schedule Uncertainty

Due to SpaceX’s setbacks, the Artemis III timeline appears increasingly out of reach. NASA is now reassessing options by entertaining proposals from other contractors for the lunar landing system. Acting Administrator Sean Duffy indicated the agency is broadening its search to maintain leadership amid intensifying competition, especially as China accelerates its Moon exploration programs.

Currently, the main rival is Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s aerospace company, working on the Blue Moon lander. However, reports suggest this lander might not be ready until 2030, which is too late to meet Artemis III needs. Despite public criticisms from Elon Musk about NASA’s openness to new contractors, calling out Duffy on social platforms, NASA remains committed to fostering competition.

We are in a race against China so we need the best companies to operate at a speed that gets us to the Moon FIRST.

SpaceX has the contract to build the HLS which will get U.S. astronauts there on Artemis III.

But, competition and innovation are the keys to our dominance in… pic.twitter.com/dAo0so5qqZ
— NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy (@SecDuffyNASA) October 20, 2025

The Road Ahead for Artemis and Moon Exploration

The outlook for NASA’s Artemis initiative has grown increasingly complex. The original ambition to promptly return astronauts to the Moon seems more distant, as timelines continually shift. Without accelerated progress, achieving long-term milestones may face further postponements.

NASA has already grappled with obstacles related to its Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion crew capsule, both key to Artemis. Coupled with ongoing Starship challenges, questions remain about meeting the agency’s ambitious exploration roadmap. Yet, NASA remains dedicated, advancing projects like the Lunar Gateway to support future lunar missions.