But the next test was successful, and NASA awarded the company a modest contract that kept it afloat. SpaceX was one of two providers hired by NASA to fly its astronauts to the International Space Station. Trump had ordered that astronauts land on the moon by 2024, a schedule the White House now says is under review as NASA works to develop its rockets and spacecraft. If confirmed, he has said he would push to get the funding the Artemis program needs, as the agency reassesses the timeline for returning astronauts to the moon. The contracts for the lunar landers come a year after NASA awarded three initial contracts to Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX.

Source: Washington Post April 16, 2021 17:40 UTC