Opinion: SpaceX’s Elon Musk endorsed Donald Trump for president – what this could mean for U.S. space policy

Elon Musk formally endorsed Donald Trump for president of the USA on July 13, 2024, shortly after Trump survived an assassination try. Musk, a billionaire know-how entrepreneur, has made groundbreaking contributions in multiple industries, notably 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 help and financial backing, it now appears much more seemingly that Trump would supply him an official place in his administration.

As somebody who research space and international relations, I’m curious about how Musk may affect U.S. space coverage 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 U.S. 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 secure, 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 most of the present U.S. space coverage objectives, a few of which carefully align with Musk’s personal ambitions for space.

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

Trump and Musk agree on three principal goals 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: the most powerful and massive spacecraft ever built. Designed to be fully reusable, Starship will carry massive payloads and be able to deep space journey – together with lunar landings and journeys to the Pink Planet.

NASA’s Artemis program, which originated from Trump’s Area 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 help business involvement in space. Trump’s Area 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 strong business U.S. space sector.

This recognition of the pivotal position that personal industries can play in space exploration aligns with Musk’s document as an entrepreneur and innovator. Underneath 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 cost 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 boundaries by directives like his Space Policy Directive 2, which aimed to streamline business space rules to encourage quicker progress and innovation within the personal space trade.

Even so, Musk has typically discovered present space regulations too restrictive. He has ceaselessly 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

By way of space priorities, Musk differs from Trump in three principal 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 method to space emphasised asserting U.S. management by attaining near-Earth and near-term milestones, like returning Individuals 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, by SpaceX, has pushed for cost reduction, innovation and speedy 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 send astronauts to the International Space 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 packages to attain space goals.

Third, Musk seems extra open to sharing patented information, even along 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 help for fostering innovation by openness and collaboration.

In distinction, Trump’s space coverage centered on nationwide safety and strategic competitors. The creation of the Area Pressure mirrored Trump’s view of space as a contested, navy area the place the U.S. should shield its belongings and keep a aggressive benefit.

Musk’s seemingly influence on future U.S. space coverage

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

A Trump-Musk partnership would seemingly 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 also be prone to push for price discount, innovation and efficiency, it might be attention-grabbing to see how his efforts would fare in opposition to authorities paperwork.

Whether or not Musk would have an effect on U.S. space coverage concerning worldwide opponents like China stays unsure. Musk’s presence in a second Trump administration may, nonetheless, make clear whether or not business space actors can assist decrease tensions between nations in space.

Musk shouldn’t be a politician. He’s a visionary and downside solver centered on the way forward for humanity. These qualities are additionally more than likely to form his influence on U.S. space coverage.

Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Assistant Professor of Area and Worldwide Relations, Johns Hopkins University

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