Musk vs Trump: SpaceX's Dragon Spacecraft in the Crosshairs
SpaceX's space capsule program comes to an end, as announced by Musk.
In a heated exchange, tech mogul Elon Musk unveiled plans to phase out SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, following a spat with US President Donald Trump over government contracts. The Dragon, currently the sole US spacecraft transporting NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), could face an uncertain future.
In a bold move, Musk mentioned his intent to dismantle the Dragon spacecraft, in retaliation to Trump's statement about canceling contracts for his companies. This announcement comes amidst Trump's allegiance with Musk wavering, with the White House eliminating the potential candidacy of Jared Isaacman – a trusted associate of Musk – for the position of NASA head, citing his inability to align with Trump's "America First" agenda.
The Dragon's Importance to NASA
With a contract worth approximately $5 billion (around $4.4 billion), the Dragon serves an essential role in NASA's operations, ferrying both crew and cargo to and from the ISS. Although Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was planned for manned flights, technical issues during its first manned mission left astronauts stranded on the ISS for several months before they could return in a SpaceX capsule.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space firm, Blue Origin, has yet to make significant headway in space travel. Following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program, the US relied on Russian craft for several years until the Dragon became operational.
A Shift in Tones
Musk wasn't done, taking aim at Trump's connection to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Musk insinuated on his platform that Trump was the reason Epstein-related documents had not been released, prompting renewed interest in Epstein's controversial dealings and potential involvement of high-profile individuals.
The "Epstein files," containing legal records from the case, have added fuel to various conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death in 2019 and the alleged involvement of powerful figures. Musk also shared a photograph featuring himself with Epstein's longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2014. Maxwell, who was recently found guilty of aiding Epstein's sex trafficking, was allegedly involved in orchestrating underage girls and young women for Epstein's sexual abuse and prostitution ring.
Source: ntv.de, mau/AFP/dpa
- SpaceX
- ISS
- NASA
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Ghislaine Maxwell
- Boeing
- Jeff Bezos
- Blue Origin
I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea of a "space" race that involves the dissolution of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, given its significant role in NASA's operations, particularly in transporting NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). This decision comes amidst a shift in tones between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, with the former taking aim at the latter's connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Dragon, which has a contract worth around $5 billion, is crucial for NASA's space-and-astronomy missions, making it a vital component of general-news and science. While Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space firm, Blue Origin, has yet to make significant strides in space travel, the US relied on Russian craft for several years after the retirement of the Space Shuttle program until the Dragon became operational.
Politics have played a part in the ongoing dispute between Musk and Trump, with the White House eliminating the potential candidacy of Jared Isaacman – a trusted associate of Musk – for the position of NASA head, citing his inability to align with Trump's "America First" agenda. The retaliatory move by Musk to dismantle the Dragon spacecraft adds a new wrinkle to this ongoing saga.
