Tension Between Elon Musk and NASA Over the 2027 Moon Return Mission
The relationship between "SpaceX" led by billionaire Elon Musk and the American space agency "NASA" has escalated sharply, following provocative statements from acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who hinted at the possibility of excluding "SpaceX" from the moon return missions, prompting strong reactions from Musk.
* Musk's Reaction and Sharp Statements
In a provocative post on the "X" platform (formerly Twitter), Musk described Duffy as "Sean the fool trying to eliminate NASA!", referring to the U.S. Transportation Secretary who currently holds the interim position at NASA and is responsible for re-launching the bids for the "Artemis 3" mission aimed at sending American astronauts to the moon's surface.
* Duffy's Criticism and "Starship" Delays
This came after Duffy's statement on Fox News, where he expressed his admiration for "SpaceX", but pointed out the company's delays in developing its giant "Starship" modified to be the lunar landing vehicle, expressing concern over the lack of adherence to the specified timeline, especially with the rising competition with China in the space race.
* Musk's Assurances and Denial of Delays
Musk responded by denying those accusations, affirming that "Starship" will complete the lunar mission fully and that his company is progressing "at lightning speed" compared to other space companies, despite the significant technical challenges the company faces.
* The Date of the "Artemis 3" Mission and Technical Challenges
NASA had set a date for the launch of the "Artemis 3" mission in mid-2027, but many experts considered this date unrealistic, with many technical obstacles remaining to be resolved before qualifying the rocket for this sensitive mission.
* Resorting to Other Companies in Facing China
Amid these tensions, NASA announced that it may resort to other landing vehicles, such as those being developed by "Blue Origin" owned by Jeff Bezos, or other companies to expedite the execution of its mission, amid pressure from the space competition with China, which aims to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
* Negotiations for Appointing NASA Administrator and Political Tension
These disputes come at a time when negotiations are underway regarding the appointment of the next permanent NASA administrator, where Jared Isaacman, a close associate of Musk, was previously excluded from nomination, but reports indicate a reconsideration of this decision despite Duffy's opposition.
* New Escalation Between Musk and Duffy on the "X" Platform
In a subsequent development, tensions escalated between Musk and Duffy after Musk attacked Duffy's intelligence level on the "X" platform, saying: "The person responsible for the U.S. space program cannot have a two-digit IQ", while Duffy responded by praising Musk's enthusiasm, pointing to the start of the "race to the moon" and affirming that major companies should not fear the challenge.
* Tensions Reflect Challenges in the Space Race
This dispute reflects the political and technical tensions surrounding the U.S. moon return program, highlighting the increasing competition between private companies and the government agency, amid a frantic global race for space exploration.
