(Reuters) - The US space agency NASA has asked Elon Musk's SpaceX to suspend work under a lunar spacecraft deal, which is challenging rival bidders in the US government's accountability office. ۔
NASA's decision means that SpaceX will have to suspend any work specifically related to the lunar program deal until GAO expects August 4.
A SpaceX spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month, NASA awarded SpaceX a lunar deal with billionaire Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynamics.
The purpose of this high-profile project is to place humans on the moon for the first time since 1972.
Blue Origin filed a protest with the GAO on Monday, arguing that NASA had given SpaceX a chance to reconsider its bid, but not Blue Origin.
Blue Origin also argued that the decision was to overcome SpaceX's "monopoly" in space exploration.
The GAO confirmed that Dynamics has also challenged SpaceX to a NASA contract award.
"As a result of the GAO's protests, NASA instructed SpaceX that progress on the HLS (Human Landing System) agreement has been suspended until the GAO achieves this," the agency said Friday. Does not resolve all outstanding litigation. "
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