It's not like I didn't call Musk crazy before, but I think now he is truly, really nuts. Like, clinically insane. This isn't about the Dragon, of course, but about the whole thing. Very curious to see how it ends and if he is as untouchable as he clearly thinks he is.
Yizahi · 4h ago
Despite my antipathy to Elon, I hope he will take down a peg first a true untouchable Demented Don, who usurped legislative branch and is now eyeing judicial. USA turning autocratic is way scarier than any tehnobro megacorp.
ceejayoz · 18h ago
There's approximately zero percent chance of this actually happening.
selivanovp · 14h ago
Yeah, pretty sure that they'll just nationalize SpaceX to prevent it from happening, but not gonna lie, it'd be funny to see how USA government would have to crawl back to Russia for ISS resupply.
They're already selling Dragon flights to private citizens and organizations. They'll keep sending Isaacman up again if he'll pay for it.
They might not do the extra stuff NASA wants anymore, but they're currently the only US option to get astronauts to space.
TheAlchemist · 17h ago
SpaceX is dead without NASA and government contracts.
Starlink is Tesla all over again - projections of profitability going exponential, only to be met with reality some years later.
ceejayoz · 17h ago
SpaceX will get nationalized under the Defense Production Act long before it's allowed to die.
VOIPThrowaway2 · 15h ago
They did it to Iridium when it went bankrupt. DOD basically got it running again with a bunch of money.
TheAlchemist · 17h ago
Yes 100% agree. Just wanted to point out that this is not a normal commercial relationship.
NASA / DOD needs SpaceX (for now) and if Musk thinks he can just stop working with / for them and continue his rocket business as usual, he's getting really delusional.
No comments yet
ben_w · 17h ago
> They might not do the extra stuff NASA wants anymore, but they're currently the only US option to get astronauts to space.
Yes, but does Trump care?
jrs235 · 1h ago
When does Trump nationalize SpaceX?
insane_dreamer · 16h ago
do not underestimate the ego (and resultant stupidity) of either musk or trump
palmotea · 17h ago
The obvious next step is to revoke FAA authorization for further Starship tests. Maybe take other steps to prevent "humanity from becoming multi-planetary" and maximally delay any future Mars missions.
Does ULA have a reusable rocket? They could probably use some government money to develop one.
imglorp · 11h ago
ULA does not and will not for ages.
Blue Origin has New Glenn which is partly reusable but has only flown once and did not land. Also they have serious organization challenges so they are a very distant second to Spacex. In terms of reuse and also cadence.
The best thing that could happen is if Musk left Tesla and SpaceX and let them continue under adult supervision.
tocs3 · 11h ago
SpaceX might have to stop launching DOD missions. Maybe The administration could deport Musk.
fifilura · 2h ago
Black swan: ESA offers to buy (from) SpaceX?
selivanovp · 14h ago
It was obvious from the beginning, that economical miracle of SpaceX is based on government subsidies. Without USA pumping money in every Musk project, his hi-tech businesses are dead.
ben_w · 21m ago
SpaceX, subsidies? No. Government contracts? Yes. Tesla subsidies, also yes.
SpaceX has actually made space cheap enough for a lot of other stuff to make sense, but without competition the profits are as big as Musk needs for R&D for his hobby of LARPing sci-fi he clearly hasn't read deeply (in this case Red Mars; in the cases of Neuralink and the SpaceX drone ships, The Culture).
ortusdux · 17h ago
Bezos and the others must be happy
andrewinardeer · 16h ago
I would say they are taking lessons from this childish spat.
CyberMacGyver · 13h ago
Any hopes of refunding NASA with the recouped SpaceX subsidies in future?
I don't see Trump caring what happens to the ISS, up to and including uncontrolled re-entry.
Musk calls for deorbiting ISS “as soon as possible” - https://spacenews.com/musk-calls-for-deorbiting-iss-as-soon-... - February 20th, 2025
No comments yet
They might not do the extra stuff NASA wants anymore, but they're currently the only US option to get astronauts to space.
Starlink is Tesla all over again - projections of profitability going exponential, only to be met with reality some years later.
NASA / DOD needs SpaceX (for now) and if Musk thinks he can just stop working with / for them and continue his rocket business as usual, he's getting really delusional.
No comments yet
Yes, but does Trump care?
Does ULA have a reusable rocket? They could probably use some government money to develop one.
Blue Origin has New Glenn which is partly reusable but has only flown once and did not land. Also they have serious organization challenges so they are a very distant second to Spacex. In terms of reuse and also cadence.
The best thing that could happen is if Musk left Tesla and SpaceX and let them continue under adult supervision.
SpaceX has actually made space cheap enough for a lot of other stuff to make sense, but without competition the profits are as big as Musk needs for R&D for his hobby of LARPing sci-fi he clearly hasn't read deeply (in this case Red Mars; in the cases of Neuralink and the SpaceX drone ships, The Culture).
No comments yet