SpaceX’s Elon Musk endorsed Donald Trump for president—what this could mean for US space policy

Elon Musk formally endorsed Donald Trump for president of the US on July 13, 2024, shortly after Trump survived an assassination try. Musk, a billionaire know-how entrepreneur, has made groundbreaking contributions in multiple industries, significantly space journey and exploration.

Even earlier than Musk’s endorsement, Trump was reportedly contemplating giving the billionaire an advisory role if elected for a second time period. With Musk’s public assist and financial backing, it now appears much more possible that Trump would provide him an official place in his administration.

As somebody who research space and international relations, I’m keen on how Musk may affect U.S. space policy if Trump wins in November. Their partnership may considerably form the way forward for U.S. space exploration and protection, in addition to shift the steadiness of energy between the private and non-private sectors in space.

Present US space coverage

A nation’s space coverage displays its imaginative and prescient and priorities for outer space. U.S. space coverage—a mixture of continuity from previous administrations and up to date directives—is printed in key paperwork, together with the U.S. National Space Policy, the U.S. Space Priorities Framework, Space Policy Directives and different official publications.

Present space coverage emphasizes sustaining U.S. management in space, defending U.S. space belongings and dealing with business and worldwide companions to advertise protected, safe and accountable habits in space. Its key elements include rising the American business space sector and returning astronauts to the moon.

Musk’s firm SpaceX has been instrumental in advancing these goals, supporting each NASA and the U.S. Space Force—the latest department of the U.S. navy—of their missions. SpaceX’s improvements, such because the reusable Falcon 9 rockets, the Starlink satellite web and the highly effective Starship, have dramatically transformed entry to and use of outer space.

The 2016–2020 Trump administration advanced lots of the present U.S. space coverage targets, a few of which intently align with Musk’s personal ambitions for space.

House synergy: Trump’s and Musk’s shared ambitions

Trump and Musk agree on three essential targets in space.

First, each are dedicated to human growth past Earth. Trump’s Space Policy Directive 1, signed on Dec. 11, 2017, set the U.S. on a course to return astronauts to the moon and set up a everlasting presence there, adopted by human missions to Mars and past.

This directive aligns with Musk’s imaginative and prescient of colonizing Mars, which is guiding the event of Starship: essentially the most highly effective and big spacecraft ever constructed. Designed to be fully reusable, Starship will carry giant payloads and be able to deep space travel—together with lunar landings and journeys to the purple planet.

NASA’s Artemis program, which originated from Trump’s House Coverage Directive 1, plans to return people to the moon by 2026. To attain this purpose, NASA partnered with SpaceX in 2021 to develop the Starship Human Touchdown System spacecraft, which is able to transport astronauts and cargo from lunar orbit to the moon’s floor and again.

Second, each Trump and Musk assist business involvement in space. Trump’s House Coverage Directive 1 particularly requires business and worldwide partnerships, marking a shift from the previous administration. President Joe Biden has continued this push to develop a sturdy business U.S. space sector.

This recognition of the pivotal position that personal industries can play in space exploration aligns with Musk’s file as an entrepreneur and innovator. Below Musk, SpaceX has not solely provided essential services to NASA, nevertheless it has additionally pushed innovation to new heights. The corporate has considerably lowered the price of space ventures and made space extra accessible to a broader audience of space explorers.

Third, each favor deregulation. Trump’s administration sought to scale back regulatory obstacles via directives like his Space Policy Directive 2, which aimed to streamline business space laws to encourage sooner progress and innovation within the personal space business.

Even so, Musk has typically discovered present space regulations too restrictive. He has often challenged U.S. regulators—such because the Federal Aviation Administration which oversees launch and reentry necessities—and has known as for “comprehensive deregulation.”

Contrasting space visions: Musk vs. Trump

When it comes to space priorities, Musk differs from Trump in three essential elements.

First, Musk is targeted on the long-term goal of constructing humanity a multi-planetary species, beginning with colonizing Mars and establishing a self-sustaining human presence there.

In distinction, Trump’s strategy to space emphasised asserting U.S. management by reaching near-Earth and near-term milestones, like returning People to the moon. Consequently, throughout his presidency, Trump prioritized the Artemis program and launched the Space Force to safeguard U.S. capabilities in space.

Second, whereas each worth the personal sector, Musk, via SpaceX, has pushed for cost reduction, innovation and fast iteration in space know-how. SpaceX’s Falcon rockets have reflown some 300 times, considerably reducing spaceflight prices. SpaceX additionally achieved main milestones in business spaceflight, together with changing into the first private company to ship astronauts to the Worldwide House Station.

In distinction, to fund the Artemis program, Trump known as for a significant increase in NASA’s finances. This transfer emphasised investing in government-led applications to realize space targets.

Third, Musk seems extra open to sharing patented information, even together with his opponents. He famously said that “patents are for the weak,” arguing that they block innovation and stifle progress. Whereas Musk continues to patent innovations, together with those related to SpaceX, he has additionally expressed assist for fostering innovation via openness and collaboration.

In distinction, Trump’s space coverage targeted on nationwide safety and strategic competitors. The creation of the House Drive mirrored Trump’s view of space as a contested, navy area the place the U.S. should defend its belongings and preserve a aggressive benefit.

Musk’s possible affect on future US space coverage

If Musk had been to tackle a bigger, formal position in a second Trump administration, he would possible push for formidable space missions and timelines. The preliminary focus would proceed to be on the Artemis program and lunar settlements, with elevated consideration ultimately shifting to human missions to Mars and past.

A Trump-Musk partnership would possible additional advance the commercialization of space. Musk may advocate for extra deregulation of space actions, doubtlessly difficult present security and safety requirements. Whereas Musk can be prone to push for value discount, innovation and efficiency, it will be attention-grabbing to see how his efforts would fare towards authorities forms.

Whether or not Musk would have an effect on U.S. space coverage relating to worldwide opponents like China stays unsure. Musk’s presence in a second Trump administration may, nonetheless, make clear whether or not business space actors may also help decrease tensions between international locations in space.

Musk isn’t a politician. He’s a visionary and drawback solver targeted on the way forward for humanity. These qualities are additionally almost definitely to form his affect on U.S. space coverage.

This text is republished from The Conversation underneath a Artistic Commons license. Learn the original article.