Musk blasts Duffy after Artemis contract spat: He 'is trying to kill NASA!'

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has publicly lambasted acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy following remarks that suggested SpaceX is lagging behind in the U.S. efforts to return to the moon. In a spirited post on X, Musk expressed his frustration, stating, "The person responsible for America's space program can't have a 2 digit IQ." Musk didn't hold back, referring to Duffy as "Sean Dummy" and accusing him of attempting to undermine NASA. He even initiated a poll questioning Duffy's suitability for leading America's space program, hinting at the administrator's past as a competitive speed climber. Earlier this week, Duffy had commented on CNBC that SpaceX was "behind" in developing its lunar landing system for the Artemis III mission, suggesting that NASA might explore contracts with other companies, including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. Both SpaceX and Blue Origin have until October 29 to present solutions to expedite the lunar project, as NASA is eager to boost the frequency of moon missions. Duffy was appointed as the acting NASA administrator in July, a position left vacant since the beginning of the Trump administration. The space agency is in a race against nations like China to land humans on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972, having initiated the Artemis program to establish a sustainable presence on the moon for scientific research and technological advancements. Despite SpaceX winning a contract in 2021, the Artemis program has faced numerous challenges. The first Artemis mission launched successfully in November 2022, but subsequent missions have been delayed, with the first crewed launch now projected for April 2026. A third mission aiming to land astronauts on the moon is scheduled for 2027. As if these hurdles weren't enough, NASA is also contending with the repercussions of an ongoing government shutdown that could impact contract operations. However, it was reported that NASA employees working with contractors on the Artemis mission will continue their duties during the shutdown.