Elon Musk made a shocking threat on Thursday after fighting with President Donald Trump on social media. The world’s richest man said SpaceX would stop using its Dragon spacecraft that takes astronauts to space.
What Started the Fight?
Trump threatened to cancel government contracts with Musk’s companies, including SpaceX rockets and Starlink internet satellites. Musk responded by saying SpaceX would immediately stop its Dragon spacecraft program.
Why This Matters for NASA
SpaceX is the only American company that can currently take astronauts to the International Space Station. Their Dragon capsules carry four people at a time and bring supplies to astronauts in space.
Boeing has a similar spacecraft called Starliner, but it has major problems. Last year, two NASA astronauts got stuck in space and had to use SpaceX to come home instead.
Other Options Are Limited
Without SpaceX, NASA would have to rely more on Russian spacecraft called Soyuz. These only hold three people and cost tens of millions of dollars per seat. SpaceX helped NASA save money and reduce dependence on Russia.
What’s Next?
It’s unclear if Musk was serious about his threat. SpaceX also helps NASA with moon missions and satellite launches. The company’s Starship rocket recently had problems during testing, breaking apart during flight.
This dispute could affect America’s space program and astronaut safety.
This blog post is for information and educational purpose only. It should not be considered personalized investment advice.