Musk Pulls Back Plan to Dismantle SpaceX Dragon After Trump’s Business Attack
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Drama with Trump Goes Beyond the Planet
SpaceX’s Dragon Ships Face “Decommissioning” After Trump’s Budget Bold
Elon Musk announced on X that SpaceX would immediately decommission its Dragon spacecraft in response to a Trump post on Truth Social that claimed canceling Musk’s government contracts would be the “easiest way to save money … Billions and Billions of Dollars.”
Just five hours later, Musk reversed decision after X user Fab25june urged “cool off and take a step back.” Musk agreed, saying, “Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”
Why Dragon Matters
- Dragon ships ferry NASA astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station.
- Speedy reversal keeps SpaceX aboard NASA’s interstellar schedule.
- Blue‑and‑red drones will preserve collaboration between the U.S. government and private industry.
Nasa’s Voice on the Scene
Bethany Stevens, NASA’s press secretary, reassured that NASA will “continue to execute upon the President’s vision for the future of space” and will maintain partnership with industry partners to meet the President’s objectives.
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Trump‑Musk Feud Intensifies over SpaceX‑NASA Contract
SpaceX’s Role in ISS Missions
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, designed for reuse, can carry up to seven passengers to and from orbit. It is the first private vehicle to transport humans to and from the ISS. Since 2020, NASA has depended on Dragon for crewed missions, replacing the retired space shuttle program and earlier reliance on Russian Soyuz.
NASA’s $843M Decommission Contract
- In 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX a $843 million contract to help decommission the ISS by the early 2030s.
- The plan uses a larger, super‑powered Dragon to push the ISS out of orbit, eventually landing in a remote part of the ocean.
- NASA plans to transition to privately‑owned space stations in the future.
Trump‑Musk Feud on Social Media
The feud erupted Thursday, with Trump and Musk publicly trading insults on their respective platforms, Truth Social and X. The conflict reflects the tension between former allies over government contracts worth billions and SpaceX’s close partnership with NASA.
Comments from Steve Bannon
Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for Trump’s first term, said in an interview Thursday that Trump should act immediately in response to Musk’s announcement about decommissioning the Dragon. Bannon called for an executive order under the Defense Production Act and to seize SpaceX before midnight.