Musk Backs Down: Dragon Stays in Orbit Despite Clashes with Trump
Elon Musk has taken a step back. After days of fiery threats and online drama, he has decided not to decommission the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, despite an escalating feud with Donald Trump. The move comes in response to the former president’s threat to cut off federal contracts for SpaceX and its satellite network Starlink. Initially, Musk considered pulling Dragon — the spacecraft that ferries astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) — as a form of protest against Trump’s calls to reduce public funding. Trump claimed that cutting government support for Musk’s ventures would save America “billions and billions of dollars.”
🛰️ For Now, Dragon Remains in Service The Dragon spacecraft is a critical component of America’s space program — currently the only operational U.S. vehicle transporting astronauts to and from the ISS. If SpaceX truly shut it down, NASA would face a major crisis, especially since Boeing’s Starliner has yet to be fully certified after its troubled 2024 test flight. After trading online blows, where Musk called Trump’s tax legislation a “disgusting abomination” and warned of a $2.4 trillion deficit increase, he responded to a user on X who urged him to “step back.” Musk complied and confirmed that Dragon would remain operational. Former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver criticized Musk’s threat: “A CEO threatening to decommission a spacecraft and put astronauts at risk is completely unsustainable.”
👨🚀 Private Missions, Federal Contracts, and a Fight Over Billions SpaceX has already launched six private crewed missions using Dragon, and another is planned for June 10 in collaboration with Axiom Space. Four civilians will travel to the ISS, further proving that Musk’s firm bridges both commercial and government space operations. SpaceX spokesperson Bethany Stevens stated that NASA will continue implementing the President’s vision in partnership with private industry. Despite tensions, the agency’s long-term goals remain unchanged. Meanwhile, Trump publicly criticized billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman, calling him a “total Democrat” and questioning his involvement in government-funded missions.
💣 Dragon, Starship, and $22 Billion on the Line Beyond Dragon, SpaceX is betting big on Starship — the giant rocket intended to land astronauts on the Moon’s surface during NASA’s Artemis missions. But the ninth test flight last week ended in failure, as the rocket lost control over Texas and crashed. Musk’s space empire is currently backed by around $22 billion in federal contracts, including: 🔹 Falcon 9 and Starship launch missions
🔹 Pentagon satellite deployments
🔹 A classified U.S. intelligence satellite network
🔹 And a military version of Starlink called Starshield
🧩 Conclusion: Musk’s High-Stakes Gamble It appears Musk realized that a direct confrontation with Trump could jeopardize his position in space exploration. For now, Dragon is staying in orbit. But this high-profile clash between a tech visionary and a political heavyweight highlights just how fragile the line can be between innovation and politics — especially when billions, rockets, and reputations are at stake.
#ElonMusk , #SpaceX , #dragon , #NASA , #TRUMP
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