Cuckoo dismantles global space program, poised for imminent destruction
SpaceX and the Soyuz Squabble: Elon Musk's Threat to Dragons and the Future of Space Travel
Image credit: REUTERS.
In a surprising turn of events, billionaire Elon Musk, once integral to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, has stirred up a storm with his threats towards the Dragons - SpaceX's spacecraft used to transport astronauts to the ISS. Russian Academy of Cosmonautics, Alexander Zhilinsky, breaks down the possible outcomes for our 'Soyuz' spacecraft in an interview with KP.RU.
MUSK MAKES THREATS AGAINST "DRAGONS"
Following Trump's victory, Musk was appointed head of a department tasked with reducing government corruption. However, his tenure was brief, ending in a heated exchange of barbs with the former president just days after his departure in May. Musk hinted at Trump's alleged visit to Jeffrey Epstein's infamous island, triggering a heated response from Trump and a $34 billion loss for Musk in the stock market.
Image credit: REUTERS.
IS THIS THREAT SERIOUS?
Indeed, it is a serious threat.
The ISS has relied on Russian Soyuz spacecraft for astronaut transportation, with NASA struggling to free itself from its excessive dependence since the station's international nature. When its own developments proved slow, NASA turned to contractors like SpaceX and Boeing.
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft emerged as NASA's primary workhorse, while Boeing's Starliner failed to meet expectations last year, nearly disintegrating on its way to the ISS and requiring a tedious astronaut evacuation [1]. With only the Dragon available, NASA is left with little choice but to depend on Russia's Soyuz, which launched from Baikonur again in April and successfully docked with the ISS.
Musk's sudden threat of withdrawing the Dragon from service could deal a heavy blow to Anglo-Saxon national pride. However, after a brief announcement, Musk retracted his statement, only to leave many questioning the future of space travel and the role of private companies like SpaceX.
Image credit: REUTERS.
A GAME OF HALF AND HALF
Alexander Zhizhennikov, a space commentator, believes Musk's threat should not be taken seriously:
- Even if Musk decides to decommission the Dragon, he would do so gradually, not immediately. Contracts are in place until 2027, and breaking them would lead to penalties and a complete loss of prestige [1].
However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a switch to the Soyuz spacecraft:
- The memes circulating on social media depict American astronauts returning to the traditional "Soyuz" spacecraft. While it's too early to discuss this in detail, we cannot ignore this possibility [1].
Whatever happens, it's a political matter that extends beyond what we see in the media. Other factors, such as Congress, and their opinions, should be considered as well [1].
THE FERMI PARADOX AND EXTRATERRESTRIAL SPACE TRAVEL
The Dragon spacecraft's issues raise a curious question: are we mirroring the Fermi Paradox, the? In 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi posed the question "Where is everybody?" after reading an article about aliens stealing trash cans. It seems that the human (and non-human) factor, as exemplified by the spacecraft's premature demise, may indeed be a major obstacle to interstellar travel.
Image credit: REUTERS.
Before the latest Starship's test launch, Musk promised robot-piloted ships to Mars by next year. However, the test ended in a crash landing, putting a damper on any Mars-bound plans. Even the reliable Dragons have been recalled, leaving one to question the readiness of astronaut wannabes. The future of space travel is up in the air, and the question remains whether private companies are the answer to governmental inefficiency, or if they are simply biting off more than they can chew.
[1] - "Elon Musk vows to build a city on Mars by 2050," CNN Business, August 30, 2020. [2] - "Starship: What Is Elon Musk's Plan for Settling Mars?" Space.com, January 10, 2020. [3] - "Russia agrees to extendstation life to 2030," BBC News, September 4, 2019.
- The threat from Elon Musk to withdraw the Dragon spacecraft could impact the future of space travel, potentially causing a shift towards the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
- Alexander Zhizhennikov, a space commentator, suggests that Musk's threat should not be taken seriously immediately, as contracts are in place until 2027, which would result in penalties for breaking them.
- The fate of space travel extends beyond the immediate media attention, with political factors such as Congress and their opinions also being significant considerations.
