The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are observed forward of a release at Launch Complex 39A on the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on March 14, 2025 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
Elon Musk on Thursday mentioned that his corporate SpaceX will start decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft “immediately” as a result of threats through President Donald Trump to cancel govt contracts with Musk’s companies.
Musk’s announcement, on his social media web page X, got here amid an escalating disagreement with Trump that started after the Tesla CEO criticized the foremost tax invoice being driven through the Republican president.
“In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,” Musk wrote.
Dragon is the one U.S. possibility for turning in team to and from the International Space Station.
A Dragon tablet introduced NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams again to Earth in March after the pair have been stranded for months on the ISS through a Boeing Starliner tablet.
SpaceX is likely one of the largest federal contractors. Since 2008, SpaceX has gained greater than $20 billion in contracts from NASA, the Air Force and different companies.
According to SpaceX’s website online, “The Dragon spacecraft is capable of carrying up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit, and beyond.”
“It is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth, and is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station,” the corporate says.
SpaceX has been growing a alternative for Dragon.
In November, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell mentioned the corporate can be flying Dragon for 6 to 8 extra years.
The corporate is these days checking out its Starship rocket, which exploded for the 3rd time in its May release.