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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a payload of 20 Starlink satellites is seen in the evening sky above Lawndale, Calif., after being launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 18, 2024.
Credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
SpaceX is known for its crewed missions to the International Space Station and the Starship program, but the relationship between the company and the U.S. government is at risk due to a feud between Elon Musk and President Trump.
The ongoing dispute highlights the reliance of the U.S. government on SpaceX for critical space operations. Trump threatened to cut SpaceX’s contracts, leading Musk to consider decommissioning the Dragon capsule.
During the Obama administration, Lori Garver championed partnerships between NASA and SpaceX when the company was an underdog in the satellite launch business. SpaceX’s innovation with Falcon rockets increased launch frequency and reduced costs, making it more attractive to the Pentagon.
SpaceX now dominates the global launch market, with the Defense Department relying heavily on their services, including the Starlink global satellite internet service.
Russia’s actions in Ukraine have raised concerns about having a single individual like Musk control critical technology such as Starlink. SpaceX’s success in securing government contracts has raised questions about overreliance on a single provider.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
Credit: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images
Garver emphasizes the importance of NASA’s multiple-contract strategy to avoid overreliance on a single provider. The future of space missions may depend on collaborations between different companies.
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