Billionaire Elon Musk has threatened to retire SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning to cut off federal contracts with Musk’s companies.
The Dragon spacecraft — originally developed with $396 million in funding from NASA — has been essential for transporting astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station via its Dragon 1 and Dragon 2 versions.
If Musk proceeds with his threat, it could seriously undermine NASA’s operational capabilities in space, as the agency currently depends heavily on Dragon missions.
SpaceX and Starlink hold major contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, including several classified projects. These tensions could jeopardize not only space exploration but also national security partnerships.
NASA has responded to Musk’s warnings by reaffirming its loyalty to the president’s space agenda.
“NASA will continue to implement the president’s vision for the future of space. We will keep working with our industry partners to ensure his space goals are achieved,” a NASA spokesperson stated.
The rift between President Trump and his former adviser Elon Musk appears to be deepening, raising concerns about the future of public-private space collaboration.
