Musk Threatens to Shut NASA’s Key Dragon Spacecraft

A standoff has erupted between US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, with Musk warning that he may shut down SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft—a system vital to NASA’s operations at the International Space Station (ISS).

The tension follows Trump’s remarks suggesting that federal contracts with Musk’s companies—SpaceX and Starlink—should be ended.

In response, Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that SpaceX would “begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.” While it’s uncertain if he will follow through, such a move could significantly disrupt NASA’s crewed space missions.

Dragon Capsule’s Crucial Role

The Dragon capsule, developed with federal investment, is currently the only American spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to and from the ISS. Boeing’s Starliner, a competing vehicle, has suffered delays and a troubled 2023 mission, resulting in astronauts returning aboard a SpaceX capsule. The Starliner remains grounded, with NASA considering another uncrewed test flight.

Beyond crewed missions, the Dragon capsule is also used for cargo deliveries and private missions, including an upcoming flight coordinated by Axiom Space.

NASA’s Sole Backup: Russia

Without SpaceX, NASA’s only alternative is Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, which typically carries two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut per flight. Under a reciprocal agreement, each SpaceX launch also includes one Russian crew member, maintaining joint presence aboard the ISS for emergencies.

Before SpaceX launched its first crewed mission in 2020, NASA depended entirely on Russia, paying tens of millions of dollars per seat.

SpaceX’s Broader Partnership with NASA

In addition to ISS operations, SpaceX is responsible for launching numerous NASA science and military missions. The company has also been awarded the contract to help deorbit the ISS once its mission ends.

NASA has further selected SpaceX’s Starship rocket to land astronauts on the Moon during the first two Artemis missions. While the rocket’s latest test ended in failure, it remains a central part of NASA’s long-term lunar plans.

As political tensions rise, the situation underscores just how deeply NASA’s ambitions are tied to Musk’s space ventures.