As NASA worries that China will win the next moon race, Elon Musk and his company tangled with critics. By Kenneth Chang NASA wants ideas of how to speed up the return of its astronauts to the surface of the moon.

SpaceX defended Starship and said it is assessing a simplified moon mission architecture, with a propellant transfer test next year.

NASA's chief said recently he's reopening bids for the Artemis III contract that it awarded SpaceX in 2021. SpaceX has now responded.

SpaceX said it has pitched NASA a "simplified mission" to put astronauts back on the moon following criticisms over delays by Sean Duffy, the space agency's acting administrator.

NASA is short of options when it comes to alternatives SpaceX has published an update on its lunar Starship progress, and it still has a long way to go before the impressive-looking renders are translated into reality.

Former Real World cast member and current Transportation Secretary / acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy recently said SpaceX was “behind” on its contract for Artemis III and proposed reopening it. (Elon Musk responded with a predictable slew of insults.

Elon Musk's SpaceX (SPACE) and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin (BORGN) have submitted plans to NASA for ramping up efforts to take astronauts to the moon, the agency told CNBC. NASA "has received and is evaluating plans from both SpaceX and Blue Origin for acceleration of HLS [Human Landing System] production,