SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is pushing NASA to skip its planned Moon missions and focus on establishing a human presence on Mars. Despite being the agency’s largest private contractor, Musk is exerting his influence over NASA’s plans. The Wall Street Journal reports that billionaire Jared Isaacman, set to become NASA administrator, has been reassured by Musk of their shared goal to send humans to Mars.
NASA’s plans to return to the Moon, including the development of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, are under threat. The White House is considering canceling the SLS program, which would free up funds for Mars efforts. However, this change in direction could raise eyebrows due to Musk’s conflict of interest and SpaceX’s interests.
Musk has been critical of NASA’s Artemis program, calling it “extremely inefficient” and accusing it of being a “jobs-maximizing program.” The agency’s plans are well underway, with the core stage of the SLS rocket recently stacked with its solid rocket boosters. A shift in focus to Mars could be costly and draw opposition from lawmakers.
Musk’s vision for space exploration aligns with that of former President Trump, who declared his administration would “launch American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” The Biden administration is now considering Musk’s proposal, which could have significant implications for NASA’s future plans.
Source: https://futurism.com/elon-musk-working-nasa