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There is some tension between SpaceX and the US government. It all began when Donald Trump vowed to renounce the agreements with Elon Musk’s business (who no longer appear to be such close buddies). NASA and the Pentagon have begun to take action to find new ways to accelerate the development of rockets and spacecraft.
Musk has not remained silent and has stated that SpaceX will cease to operate its Dragon spacecraft in the event that the agreements are canceled. This would leave the United States without a quick means of sending humans to the International Space Station. Are there any viable substitutes for SpaceX?
The direction of space exploration
NASA currently depends entirely on SpaceX to complete its missions, and despite Musk’s retraction of his threats, it appears that the tension will persist. Was Trump’s action a calculated political ploy?
Musk s response worsens the situation
Being a born provocateur, Musk didn’t intend to remain silent, not even with his pal Trump, so he reacted right away. The aerospace industry viewed his threat that SpaceX will cease operating the Dragon spacecraft if the contracts were breached as a high-risk decision. The lives of the seven astronauts already on the ISS would be in jeopardy if SpaceX ceased operations because that spacecraft is now the only vehicle that can transport humans from U.S. soil to the ISS.
Many Pentagon and NASA officials found the Trump-Morcel rivalry amusing at first, but after the Dragon threat was made public, they understood it was more than just a threat, and things turned terrifying.
What other options does the United States have?
Not at all. Although it’s difficult to comprehend, there are no other choices. Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, is still in the development stage for manned flights and is not yet equipped to make those journeys. However, Boeing has experienced numerous delays and technical issues with its Starliner capsule. It’s also not an option. Although Firefly Aerospace and Rocket Lab are making strides, their vehicles are not yet prepared for extensive missions, therefore
So, no, even though we don’t want to, we must keep Musk satisfied since he has threatened to cancel a space trip before. NASA asked for a safety inquiry into SpaceX back in 2018 after he spoke with Joe Rogan.
However, things are considerably more complicated now, and the NASA station has cost over $100 billion. It speaks volumes about him that he may imperil all space research due to his impetuous behavior.
NASA and the Pentagon take action
Pentagon and NASA officials have increased their attempts to put pressure on other firms to accelerate the development of alternative technologies. Even if there haven’t been any problems thus far, depending solely on one private corporation doesn’t seem like the greatest course of action following this occurrence.
Full SpaceX dependence: Risk or solution?
Rockets aren’t the only contracts at issue; contracts for defense, satellites, and planetary exploration missions are also at stake, and perhaps those shouldn’t be solely in private hands.
And the competition?
Although some businesses have technological capabilities, or are at least attempting to do so, none of them have attained the operational maturity level of SpaceX (keep in mind that they have developed a whole space system).
In the hopes that at least one of these companies will be prepared to step in if Musk decides to sever connections, the government has begun to provide these businesses with additional financial and technical support.
A possible turning point for the future of U.S. space
There may be a before and after to this problem. It demonstrates that a country cannot sustain its presence in space by depending just on one business, regardless of how effective that business may be. Naturally, though, it demonstrates that changes must be made to the public-private partnership paradigm in order to ensure the nation’s security and independence.
Musk s strategic dilemma
Elon Musk is aware of the importance of SpaceX in the modern world, but he is also aware that this dominance is in jeopardy. His warning has sparked fears throughout Washington and accelerated the diversification process, which previously appeared to be a long and bureaucratic process. This is the exact reverse of what he may have intended.
The current contracts will probably stay in effect for the time being. However, it is evident that the administration does not wish to continue depending solely on SpaceX. In the upcoming years, the U.S. space scene could undergo a complete transformation if tensions persist.
