Musk Begins Decommissioning SpaceX Dragon Amid Fallout With Trump

SpaceXโ€™s Crew Dragon capsule remains Americaโ€™s only means of human spaceflight.

Elon Musk announced on June 5 that SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft after President Donald Trump appeared to call for the termination of all of the governmentโ€™s subsidies and contracts with him.

โ€œIn light of the Presidentโ€™s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,โ€ Musk wrote on X.

SpaceX Dragon crew and cargo capsules have been the backbone of the National Aeronautics and Space Administrationโ€™s (NASA) spacefaring efforts for several years, operating the first cargo mission to the International Space Station in 2012, and launching its first crewed mission in 2020.

The company has taken up residence at Kennedy Space Centerโ€™s historic Launch Complex 39A, which is adding a launch tower for the behemoth Starship, and Cape Canaveral Space Force Stationโ€™s Launch Complex 40 in Florida.

SpaceX has also been contracted to provide one of the lunar landers for NASAโ€™s Artemis program to return human beings to the moon, and it was set to develop the spacecraft that would strategically deorbit the International Space Station by 2030.

SpaceXโ€™s Crew Dragon capsule, at this time, remains Americaโ€™s only means of human spaceflight.

Although Boeing has tried to add a second option, complete termination of the SpaceX/NASA commercial crew partnership could mean an immediate loss of consistent American human spaceflight capabilities, following the end of the Space Shuttle Program.

Boeingโ€™s CST-100 Starliner performed one test flight to the space station in 2024, but failed to bring its crew back due to technical issues discovered midflight. Those astronauts had to rely on a Crew Dragon capsule to bring them home.

While the Starliner is still scheduled to carry the 12th crew of NASAโ€™s commercial crew program to the space station, it is unclear if the spacecraft will be ready to fly again in time.

NASA also has a crewed capsule in the works called Orion, but it has been designed specifically for the Artemis moonshot missions and has yet to have a crewed test flight.

Byย T.J. Muscaro

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

โ€˜This One Time, at Groomer Campโ€™

All Camp Brave Trails programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion.

Why Recognizing a Palestinian State Now Undermines U.S. Interestsย 

A recent American Conservativeย article suggests President Trump recognize a Palestinian state, but this would undermine the interests of the United States.

News

Guatemalan Deportee Arrives in US After Judge Orders Trump Admin to Facilitate Return

โ€œAmericaโ€™s asylum system was never intended to be used as a de facto amnesty program or a catch-all, get-out-of-deportation-free card,โ€ McLaughlin said.

Trump-Musk Feud Escalates Over Spending Bill: 5 Things to Know

A public feud between Musk and Trump took a turn for the worse. Musk claimed president wouldnโ€™t have won without him and president suggested Muskโ€™s subsidies could be pulled.

Supreme Court Rules 9-0 Wisconsin Violated First Amendment by Denying Tax Exemption to Catholic Charity

Supreme Court ruled unanimously that WI violated the First Amendment by not granting Catholic charity an exemption from paying unemployment tax.

Appeals Court Rules San Diegoโ€™s Yoga Ban Is Unconstitutional

The city of San Diegoโ€™s ban on yoga classes in public parks and beaches was ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court.

Supreme Court Rejects Mexicoโ€™s Lawsuit Against Gun Companies

SCOTUS said gun companies should not face lawsuit in which Mexican govt was trying to hold them liable for cartel-related violence involving firearms from US.

FDA Not Recommending Newly Approved COVID-19 Vaccine: Official

FDA approved a new COVID-19 vaccine but is not recommending people receive it, the agencyโ€™s top vaccine officials said on June 4.

Self-Sufficiency Summits in Ohio Reflect Surging Interest in Homesteading

After an age of reliance on store-bought items, many Americans are returning to a self-sufficient lifestyle and growing and raising the food they consume.

Judge Requires Trump Admin to Provide Due Process for Deportees in El Salvador Prison

Boasberg ordered Trump admin to provide habeas relief for individuals it deported and are held in Salvadoran maximum security prison.
spot_img

Related Articles