Elon Musk threatens to shut down SpaceX’s Dragon capsule after President Trump suggests terminating federal contracts, jeopardizing NASA’s key ISS missions.
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| Elon Musk's threat to dismantle SpaceX’s Dragon capsule amid a political spat with President Trump could disrupt NASA’s crewed space-flights and moon mission plans. Image: Collected |
Washington, USA, June 6, 2025:
A public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk erupted on Thursday, with Musk threatening to shut down the Dragon spacecraft—an essential component of NASA’s spaceflight program. The confrontation was triggered by Trump’s online remarks suggesting the potential termination of federal contracts with Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Starlink.
In response, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter), stating that SpaceX would "begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately." Though it's unclear whether Musk intends to act on this, such a move would pose a major risk to NASA’s current operations and future ambitions in space.
The Dragon capsule, built with federal funding, is currently the only American spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA has relied on it since 2020 to maintain a U.S. presence aboard the orbiting laboratory. The vehicle is also used for cargo deliveries and commercial missions, including an upcoming flight arranged by Houston-based Axiom Space.
Boeing’s Starliner, once expected to compete with Dragon, remains grounded due to persistent technical issues. A failed 2023 mission forced NASA to return astronauts using a SpaceX capsule. While another uncrewed test is being considered, Starliner remains unready for routine service.
Without SpaceX’s Dragon, NASA’s only fallback is Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, which typically transports three astronauts. The U.S. and Russia currently maintain a crew swap agreement that ensures shared occupancy on both vehicles, providing critical emergency return options. However, renewed reliance on Soyuz would be costly and diplomatically complex—especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
SpaceX is not only NASA’s primary crew transport provider but also a major player in the agency’s long-term plans. The company routinely launches NASA’s scientific missions and military payloads, and it has been contracted to help safely deorbit the ISS at the end of its lifespan.
Crucially, NASA has also selected SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket to land astronauts on the Moon under the Artemis program. Although the latest Starship test flight failed, the rocket remains central to NASA’s return to the lunar surface, with missions planned for later this decade.
Musk’s remarks highlight the fragile relationship between private contractors and federal agencies amid shifting political winds. The potential decommissioning of the Dragon capsule threatens to derail multiple national objectives in space exploration, including human spaceflight continuity, lunar landing goals, and private sector collaboration.
While the White House has not formally responded, NASA insiders are reportedly concerned and monitoring the situation closely. Whether Musk’s post signals a serious operational shift or a high-stakes bargaining tactic remains to be seen—but the implications for America’s space future are significant.