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Economic Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Trump administration ordered review of SpaceX government contracts following Trump-Musk fallout: Report
Reuters FILE PHOTO: Elon Musk speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and guests at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024 . Brandon Bell/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo The White House has begun reviewing contracts awarded to Elon Musk's SpaceX after tensions between the billionaire and President Donald Trump spilled into the public. According to The Wall Street Journal, the administration launched the review to 'identify potential waste in agreements worth billions of dollars,' citing sources familiar with the Musk and SpaceX have not commented, government officials soon concluded that most of these contracts could not be dropped. Their importance to the Department of Defense and NASA made them virtually review also extended beyond SpaceX. A White House official confirmed that the assessment included several companies with lucrative government early June, Musk began criticising Trump's signature tax-and-spending bill on social media. What started as policy disagreement turned personal, prompting Trump to fire back. On 5 June, the president posted on Truth Social that the best way to save money was to 'terminate' government contracts held by Musk's days later, on 9 June, Josh Gruenbaum, Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration (GSA), sent an email to the Department of Defense. He requested a complete spreadsheet listing SpaceX contracts and other transaction agreements. According to the Journal, the data was intended for the White House. The same request was made to NASA and at least five other agencies. These spreadsheets—internally referred to as "scorecards"—detailed the value of each contract and evaluated whether other companies could do the same job more when officials at the Pentagon and NASA reviewed the findings, the answer was clear: the majority of SpaceX's deals were too essential to walk away from. Some contracts might face ongoing scrutiny, according to sources, but a wholesale exit was not an Musk was once close to Trump. He had a lead role in the Department of Government Efficiency, which aimed to reduce federal spending. That relationship has now Musk's online criticism, Trump's decision to publicly question SpaceX's funding marked a rare move against a key government contractor. But as the data rolled in, the limits of political retaliation became reported by the WSJ, during the review, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell met with White House officials. Details of the discussions remain undisclosed, but her presence highlights the seriousness of the review brought to light a fact US officials have long understood: the country has few viable alternatives to SpaceX. The company dominates the commercial launch industry. Its Falcon rockets, equipped with reusable boosters, have become the mainstay for launching government payloads. Its Crew Dragon capsule is currently the only American spacecraft certified to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. In May, SpaceX launched an upgraded GPS satellite for the US Space Force. In April, the Pentagon awarded the company 28 national-security flights worth $5.9 billion—more than any other has already scheduled another crewed mission with SpaceX later this the dependence cuts both ways. During the height of the Trump–Musk feud, Musk threatened to decommission Crew Dragon. He later reversed course. Even so, the statement caused concern within NASA, which has long sought to diversify its options for crewed rise hasn't gone unnoticed by competitors. Many rivals have struggled with delays and technical setbacks while building their own rockets and satellites. Government contracts have been structured to encourage more competition, but progress remains agencies are actively pushing other providers to step up. Still, officials acknowledge that no one else can currently match SpaceX's scale or its dominance, the company insists it supports competition. "We win these contracts by offering the best prices and executing," Shotwell said at an investor event in November. Even as scrutiny continues, SpaceX keeps expanding. Its Starlink satellite internet network now serves multiple government agencies. Meanwhile, Starshield, a separate SpaceX division, has secured classified contracts from US intelligence agencies.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Elon Musk confirms next SpaceX Starship test flight coming soon after recent setbacks
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the company plans to launch the next test flight of its massive Starship rocket in 'about three weeks.' The announcement came via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on July 14, 2025. If the timeline holds, it would mark the 10th test flight of Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, and its fourth mission this year. The flight follows a string of technical setbacks, including the explosion of a Ship upper stage during a test and the loss of control in previous flights. Despite these hurdles, SpaceX remains committed to advancing Starship's goal of enabling interplanetary travel and rapid, reusable orbital missions. SpaceX Starship's recent failures The upcoming launch follows a bumpy path for SpaceX's Starship program. On June 18, the upper stage (referred to as "Ship") originally slated for Flight 10 exploded on a test stand at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas. Investigations pointed to a failed pressurized nitrogen tank in the vehicle's nosecone. SpaceX has since begun preparing a replacement Ship vehicle for the mission. This incident adds to previous in-flight failures: Flights 7, 8, and 9—all launched in 2025—ended with the vehicle being lost during or after ascent. Super heavy booster shows promise by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo While the ship has encountered repeated issues, the Super Heavy booster—the rocket's massive first stage—has delivered more consistent performance. During Flights 7 and 8, the booster successfully returned to Starbase and was even caught by the launch tower's mechanical 'chopstick' arms. Flight 9 also featured the first-ever reuse of a Super Heavy booster. However, during reentry, that reused booster broke apart over the Gulf of Mexico shortly after initiating its landing burn. What's next for Starship Flight 10 Flight 10 will be the 10th fully integrated launch of the Starship-Super Heavy system. If successful, it will help SpaceX demonstrate improved reusability and system reliability, key to the company's ambitions of using Starship for lunar missions, space station resupply, and eventually Mars colonization . SpaceX has not yet disclosed a specific target date, but if preparations go as planned, the launch could occur by early August 2025. Long-term vision: Moon, Mars, and beyond SpaceX's ultimate goal for Starship is to serve as a fully reusable transport system for large payloads and humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The rocket stands nearly 400 feet tall when fully stacked and is powered by Raptor engines fueled by liquid methane and liquid oxygen. With each launch, the company collects valuable data to refine the vehicle's design and operations. Despite recent failures, Musk has reiterated that iterative testing and rapid development are central to SpaceX's approach. Starbase, SpaceX's sprawling launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, continues to be a key hub for Starship development. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is closely monitoring the program and will need to approve the upcoming launch. Local and international space enthusiasts are watching closely, eager to see if Starship can deliver on its promise of revolutionizing space travel.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Could Mexico sue SpaceX? Debris from Starship rocket explosion prompts investigation
SpaceX's Starship exploded for the most recent time last month. Now, Mexico is threatening legal action for potential pollution it could have caused. Billionaire Elon Musk's aggressive approach in developing SpaceX's massive Starship rocket from South Texas has led to spectacular fiery explosions time after time after time. Now, it seems the United States' neighbors south of the border are reaching the end of their patience. During a recent news conference, Mexico's president indicated that a lawsuit could be forthcoming if investigators determine that Musk's spaceflight company has contributed to undue pollution and marine life die-off in the country. The announcement comes after SpaceX's Starship, which the company is developing for human spaceflight, exploded in a fiery blaze last month. The mishap occurred as the giant spacecraft was being prepared for an engine test ahead of its next launch. While no one was injured, the explosion did cause debris to fall in the area of SpaceX's test site in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. Here's what to know about SpaceX's Starship, including the recent explosion and Mexico's ensuing legal threats. Why did SpaceX Starship rocket explode? On June 18, Starship unexpectedly exploded while SpaceX was preparing for an upcoming flight test. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred as the Starship spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand prior to being mounted on top of the rocket booster. The mishap, which SpaceX later referred to on its website as "a sudden energetic event," completely destroyed the spacecraft and ignited several fires that caused damage in the area surrounding the test stand. While SpaceX is investigating the mishap, Musk said in a post on X that preliminary data suggested that a pressurized tank failed at the top of the rocket. Why is Mexico threatening to sue SpaceX? About a week later, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced she is considering taking legal action against SpaceX. 'We are reviewing everything related to the launching of rockets that are very close to our border,' Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Wednesday, June 25, as reported by multiple outlets, including the New York Times and Al Jazeera. The announcement comes as Mexican officials are conducting a review of potential environmental damage in the Mexican state of Tamaulipa after debris from the exploding spacecraft rained down on its beaches. If SpaceX violated any international laws, 'we will file any necessary claims,' Sheinbaum said. The governor of Tamaulipas, Américo Villarreal Anaya, said authorities were examining whether 'the internationally required distances are being respected in order to have these types of facilities, so that there is no risk to urban centers,' according to reporting from the Times. Elon's legal troubles: Advertisers want Elon Musk's X Corp lawsuit out of Wichita Falls in Texas SpaceX: 'No hazards to the surrounding area' SpaceX claimed on its website that the Starship explosion posed "no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks" to the surrounding inhabited areas. The assertion is one that the company reiterated on social media site X when news broke of Sheinbaum's comments. "As previously stated, there are no hazards to the surrounding area," SpaceX wrote in a June 26 post. "And as is the case before any test, a safety zone was established around the test site and was maintained throughout the operation." SpaceX also blamed trespassers for hindering recovery teams' efforts to retrieve debris. What is Starbase? The explosion occurred while SpaceX was prepping Starship for its next launch from the company's Starbase headquarters, located about 23 miles from Brownsville and about 180 miles south of Corpus Christi. Starbase, which Texas voters in Cameron County approved in May to become its own town, has also attracted some of its own controversy. Earlier in June, commissioners with the city of Starbase voted unanimously to close several of the city's public streets to outsiders, angering longtime residents and property owners. Environmentalists have long opposed rocket testing at Starbase in Texas The mishap and threats of legal action also come amid growing outcry among environmental activists over how SpaceX's operations are potentially decimating regional ecosystems. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network, which has long opposed Musk and his space program, most recently issued a statement in May condemning the Federal Aviation Administration for approving SpaceX's request to increase its Starship flight tests. SpaceX has long refuted accusations that its rocket launches pose threats to wildlife or the environment. What is SpaceX's Starship rocket? Starship, regarded as the world's largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, towers over SpaceX's famous Falcon 9 rocket – one of the world's most active – which stands at nearly 230 feet. SpaceX is developing Starship to be a fully reusable transportation system, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. The Starship, standing nearly 400 feet tall when fully stacked, is due to play a pivotal role in the years ahead in U.S. spaceflight as NASA eyes a return to the moon and Musk has dreams of the first humans reaching Mars. What other times has Starship exploded? But the next-generation spacecraft has yet to reach orbit on any of its nine uncrewed flight tests, which began in 2023 and are visible to the public from nearby South Padre Island. For three tests between June and November 2024, Starship flew halfway around the world at a lower suborbital trajectory before reentering Earth's atmosphere and splashing down as planned in the Indian Ocean. Those flights have been followed by a series of setbacks after Starship's first three tests of 2025 all failed to repeat the successes of previous demonstrations. Before the latest explosion in June, Starship's most recent demonstration came May 27 when the spacecraft spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball. Though Starship was unable to achieve its most important objectives, the distance the vehicle traveled far surpassed the previous 2025 flights in January and March, when Starship exploded within minutes. SpaceX is planning to increase the number of Starship launches after receiving key regulatory approval to conduct 25 flight tests a year. Just four Starship test missions were conducted in 2024. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
NDTV
08-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
US Air Force Suspends SpaceX Project Over Reason Musk Swore Off Eggs Once
The US Air Force has suspended a proposed rocket cargo delivery programme involving SpaceX after concerns that the project could severely disrupt a vital seabird sanctuary in the Pacific. The objections are similar to an earlier controversy when CEO Elon Musk, responding to bird nest damage caused by a SpaceX launch, said that he would give up omelettes for a week "to make up for this heinous crime." According to the now-paused project was part of a US military initiative to explore the use of commercial rockets, such as those built by SpaceX, to deliver up to 100 tonnes of military cargo anywhere in the world within 90 minutes. The concept was being tested under the Rocket Cargo programme managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The proposed testing site - Johnston Atoll - is a 2.5 square km uninhabited island located about 1,300 km from Hawaii. The atoll is part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and is federally protected as a wildlife refuge. Biologists and conservationists sounded the alarm, warning that rocket landings could devastate critical nesting grounds for 14 species of tropical seabirds, including red-tailed tropicbirds, white terns, and boobies. The island is one of the few remaining safe havens for these species, and any significant disruption could impact entire breeding cycles. The concerns led to increased scrutiny after Reuters published a report featuring comments from scientists who worked on the atoll. Shortly after, the Air Force suspended the tests. While SpaceX was never officially named as a private partner in the program, its rockets were among the commercial systems considered for the tests. The company has previously faced backlash for the environmental impact of its launches. In April 2023, a SpaceX Starship launch from Boca Chica, Texas, triggered a powerful blast that destroyed nesting areas and eggs of the endangered piping plover. The incident drew criticism from environmental groups and regulators, and even landed on the front page of The New York Times. Reacting to the coverage on X, Musk posted, "To make up for this heinous crime, I will refrain from having omelette for a week." The Rocket Cargo programme was originally pitched as a revolutionary logistics platform that could allow the US military to bypass conventional transport routes, reaching remote or conflict-prone regions rapidly.
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Mexico to investigate impacts of SpaceX Starship explosion
June 27 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the nation is launching an investigation into the impacts of debris from debris that landed in the country after SpaceX rocket exploded in Texas. Sheinbaum said in a press conference Wednesday that there "is indeed contamination" and Mexico is launching a general review of the impact of the debris. SpaceX is denying that debris from the explosion of one of its rockets has damaged the environment in Mexico. "We are reviewing everything related to the launching of rockets that are very close to our border," Sheinbaum said, adding that Mexico would "file any necessary claims" if it found SpaceX violated international laws. The SpaceX Starship exploded on June 19 during a preflight procedure for its 10th test flight from Starbase, Texas, with previous flights also exploding in the air after launch and scattering material in the surrounding areas. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the time called the incident "just a scratch," as no one was injured, although Mexico alleges the explosion sent debris along the shoreline of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The company, however, denied the claims in a post on X on Thursday. "As previously stated, there are no hazards to the surrounding area," SpaceX said. "Previous independent tests conducted on materials inside Starship, including toxicity analyses, confirm they pose no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks." Environmental activists have alleged that debris from the incident has caused a die-off of marine life, such as dolphins, sea turtles and fish, while residents of the city of Matamoros have ostensibly found canisters and metal pieces on the beaches there as well. The nonprofit environmental organization Conibio Global A.C. posted to its social media platform Monday that Sheinbaum responded to their complaint in regard to SpaceX debris and sent a crew of technicians, scientists and biologists among other specialists to investigate hunks of metal, rubber and plastic, as well as combustion tanks that purportedly fell from the Starship explosion into an area that includes the Río Bravo River. "Within the inspections they took samples of water from the river and the beach, soil, sand, burnt plants, among others," the post said, and also showed photos that allegedly show pieces of Starship wreckage and damage to trees. Another post from last week purportedly shows a large piece of Starship that fell into an area of communal farmland known as La Burrita. The group also posted video from Bagdad Beach in Matamoros that allegedly shows Starship pieces, one of which is clearly labeled "SpaceX." In the Thursday X post from SpaceX, the company says it has made attempts to recover debris from the explosion, and that it has "requested local and federal assistance from the government of Mexico in the recovery of anomaly related debris, offered resources and assistance in the clean-up, and have sought validation of SpaceX's right to conduct recovery operations." "SpaceX looks forward to working with the Mexican government and local authorities for the return of the debris as soon as possible," the post concluded. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
