Bezos’s Rocket Team Ramps Up to Beat China to the Moon
Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is going full throttle in its bid to help NASA reach the Moon faster. The company’s CEO, Dave Limp, says the team stands ready to “move heaven and Earth” to speed up America’s return to the lunar surface.
With China accelerating its own lunar ambitions, the stakes are high. NASA’s Artemis program—the mission series designed to return humans to the Moon—faces pressure as delays mount in SpaceX’s Starship program. Blue Origin now sees an opportunity to step in and offer an alternative, faster path to the Moon.
“We just want to help the U.S. get to the Moon,” Limp said in an interview with Ars Technica. “If NASA wants to go quicker, we would move heaven and Earth to make that happen.”
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
NASA’s Moon Timeline Gets a Reality Check
NASA originally planned for Artemis III to land astronauts on the Moon by 2027 using SpaceX’s Starship. But with Starship still struggling to reach orbit and complete essential refueling tests, NASA has reopened its lander contract competition.
Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy confirmed that both SpaceX and Blue Origin were invited to submit accelerated plans. The agency now seeks a realistic option that could deliver humans to the lunar surface before China executes its own crewed landing mission.
“If NASA sticks to its current schedule, China may reach the Moon first,” said Duffy, emphasizing the need to reassess mission architecture and timelines.
Blue Origin’s New Proposal: Mark 1.5 Lander
Blue Origin’s existing Mark 2 lander, part of its Blue Moon program, is already scheduled for use in Artemis V around 2030. However, the company believes it can bridge the gap sooner with a modified version of its Mark 1 cargo lander, dubbed Mark 1.5.
This in-between model is designed to handle human transport while leveraging proven Mark 1 components. Blue Origin submitted an initial summary of the proposal to NASA and is finalizing a comprehensive report detailing how it can accelerate mission readiness.
“We have some ideas that could accelerate the path to the Moon,” Limp said. “I hope NASA takes a close look.”
Insiders say the redesign prioritizes simplicity and safety — using a modular system that reduces the number of in-orbit refueling steps required by Starship. Blue Origin also draws on lessons learned from developing New Glenn, its heavy-lift rocket, set to launch soon from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The Bigger Race: America vs. China
NASA’s renewed urgency stems from one clear concern: China is catching up fast. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) plans a crewed lunar landing in the late 2020s, possibly before NASA’s Artemis III mission.
China’s Chang’e program already demonstrated advanced lunar technology, including robotic sample retrieval and orbital docking—steps essential for future human missions.
Blue Origin sees itself as the key to maintaining U.S. dominance in space exploration. By providing an American-built alternative to SpaceX’s delayed Starship, Bezos’s company is positioning itself as both a patriotic partner and a commercial competitor.
Partnerships and Pressure
NASA’s decision to reopen the bid reflects broader strategic anxiety. The U.S. government wants redundancy in lunar infrastructure — ensuring that if one system fails, another can step in. Blue Origin’s Mark 1.5 concept offers that safety net.
Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to test Starship at Boca Chica, Texas, with mixed results. While the company achieved orbital flight earlier this year, full mission simulation and refueling capability remain unproven.
For NASA, time is the critical factor. As delays accumulate, the race to the Moon is as much political as technological.
“Blue Origin’s readiness and reusability could provide a faster route,” said a NASA source familiar with the review process. “It gives NASA flexibility that Starship’s delays currently don’t.”
TF Summary: What’s Next
Blue Origin’s renewed pitch for NASA’s lunar contract is pivotal to the Artemis program. With SpaceX’s Starship facing persistent delays and China‘s aggressive development of its own lunar mission, NASA must now mull innovation against urgency.
MY FORECAST: Blue Origin’s Mark 1.5 lander proposal has real momentum. Expect NASA to split its lunar contracts, awarding funding to both SpaceX and Blue Origin that ensures redundancy and speed. If successful, Blue Origin may land humans on the Moon before 2028. An early landing secures a significant win for Bezos and bolsters America’s presence in lunar exploration.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech