Musk Threatens to Shut Down SpaceX Dragon Capsule Amid Clash with Trump

WASHINGTON : A heated exchange on social media between U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk escalated on Thursday, with Musk threatening to shut down SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft — the only American-built capsule currently capable of carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

The standoff began after President Trump suggested the government might terminate contracts with Musk’s companies — SpaceX and Starlink — over unspecified concerns. In response, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), declaring that SpaceX would “begin shutting down its Dragon spacecraft immediately.”

It remains unclear whether Musk’s threat was genuine or rhetorical. However, the implications are significant. The Dragon capsule, developed with extensive support from NASA contracts, plays a vital role in transporting astronauts and supplies to the ISS. SpaceX is currently the only U.S.-based company with the proven ability to carry astronauts to the ISS, following the success of its crewed missions since 2020.

NASA’s dependence on SpaceX extends beyond the ISS. The agency relies on Musk’s firm for scientific missions and, notably, for returning astronauts to the Moon later this decade under the Artemis program. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule is also used for private missions, with one such trip — organized by Houston-based Axiom Space — scheduled for next week.

The alternative to SpaceX for ISS transport is Russia’s Soyuz capsule, which can carry three crew members. Under a current barter agreement, each Soyuz launch carries one NASA astronaut alongside two Russian cosmonauts, while SpaceX missions carry at least one Russian astronaut. This arrangement ensures that, in case of emergencies, both nations always have a presence aboard return flights.

NASA’s only other American crew capsule option — Boeing’s Starliner — remains grounded following a troubled test flight in June 2023. The Starliner’s failed mission forced two NASA astronauts to return aboard a SpaceX capsule in March, after spending over nine months in space. NASA is still evaluating whether to proceed with another test using cargo instead of crew. Until then, Dragon remains the sole operational U.S. capsule for human spaceflight.

In addition to crew transport, cargo versions of the Dragon capsule routinely deliver food, experiments, and other supplies to the ISS. SpaceX also launches scientific missions, military satellites, and commercial payloads, solidifying its status as a critical player in U.S. space infrastructure.

SpaceX’s significance doesn’t end with the ISS. The company was awarded a NASA contract to safely deorbit the ISS when it reaches the end of its life cycle. Furthermore, NASA has selected SpaceX’s Starship mega rocket to carry astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface for the Artemis III and IV missions. Though Starship’s latest test flight from Texas last week ended in failure — breaking apart after launch — it remains a cornerstone of NASA’s future lunar ambitions.

While Musk’s threat may have been made in the heat of the moment, any disruption to SpaceX’s operations could have far-reaching consequences for NASA and America’s space exploration plans.