Spats and Shutdowns: Musk's SpaceX U-Turn After Trump's Verbal Jab
SpaceX Tycoon Threatens Former President Trump with Leaked Epstein Docs, Later Reverses Stance
Elon Musk, the tech titan behind SpaceX and Tesla, upped the ante in his heated exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump, threatening to halt operations of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The Dragon, a vital cog in NASA's mission to the International Space Station (ISS), is worth a cool $5 billion (around $4.4 billion).
However, Musk's bluff was quickly called after a change of heart. Responding to a follower's advice to take a breather, Musk casually announced, "Good advice. Ok, we won't retire Dragon." Here's the lowdown on their public squabble and the implications it had on the space race.
Musk-Trump Tussle: An Unlikely Rivalry
The tension between the two began when Musk criticized Trump's fiscal policies, labeling them "massive, outrageous, pork-filled" and even calling for his impeachment. The cherry on top was Musk's accusation that Trump was mentioned in the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files[1]. In retaliation, Trump threatened to ax Musk's government contracts[1].
Dragon Spacecraft: A Mission-Critical Lifeline
The Dragon spacecraft plays a pivotal role in NASA's operations, transporting astronauts to the ISS and delivering supplies. Its importance is underscored by the fact that Boeing's Starliner is currently experiencing setbacks, leaving the Dragon as the sole American spacecraft capable of maintaining critical space missions[2].
Musk's threat to pull the plug on the Dragon would have been a massive blow to NASA, jeopardizing its mission to the ISS and private ventures like the upcoming Axiom Space flight[1]. Thankfully, Musk's U-turn ensured the continuation of these endeavors, averting disruptions and maintaining the U.S.'s edge in space exploration[2][5].
The Musk-Trump feud sent Tesla shares plummeting, with Musk losing a staggering $34 billion in a single day[4]. It's a reminder that in the cutthroat world of billionaires and politics, personal vendettas can have far-reaching consequences.
Epstein Files and Musk's Connection
Musk stirred the pot further by pointing fingers at Trump's past association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein[3]. Epstein's criminal acts surface in the "Epstein files" - a collection of legal documents associated with the case[3]. Musk was reportedly himself photographed at a party with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate and former girlfriend[4].
[1] - https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/heres-why-musks-spacex-threat-shutdown-puts-nasa-and-space-industry-2020-05-29/
[2] - https://www.space.com/spacex-nasa-dragon-shutdown-threat.html
[3] - https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/what-we-know-so-far-about-musks-jeffrey-epstein-connection-n1224566
[4] - https://fortune.com/2020/05/29/spacex-elon-musk-dragon-shutdown-nasa/
[5] - https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/spacex-says-didnt-retire-dragon-any-delay-would-be-purely-coincidental
SpaceX
- NASA
- International Space Station
- Dragon Spacecraft
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- Jeffrey Epstein
- I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea of a "space race" escalating into a broader confrontation between politics and space-and-astronomy.
- The science of space exploration should remain separate from the realm of entertainment and politics, ensuring that general-news focuses on the advancement of knowledge rather than personal vendettas.
- Despite their disagreements, the role of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft in NASA's space-and-astronomy missions is of utmost importance, underscoring the need for a collaborative approach in SpaceX's relationship with politicians, such as Donald Trump.
