NASA and SpaceX are locked in a dispute over manual controls for the lunar lander, with the space agency pushing for astronaut-operated systems while SpaceX favors automation. This echoes a similar conflict during Crew Dragon's development when SpaceX initially proposed touchscreen-only controls.

The inspector general's report highlights that Apollo astronauts used manual backups during all six lunar landings, though that was six decades ago with far less sophisticated flight software. The disagreement centers on human-rating certification requirements for Starship, which lacks the proven flight heritage of Dragon's cargo version that flew to the International Space Station.

NASA argues that manual controls are essential for crew survival strategies and certification, while SpaceX's approach would make automation the sole landing method. The report notes that uncrewed demonstration flights won't test critical systems like life support or lunar dust impacts, raising questions about the lander's readiness for human missions.