Elon Musk at Viva Technology (Vivatech) 2023. Credit: Frédéric Legrand | Dreamstime.com
Elon Musk officially He supported Donald Trump for President of the United States on July 13, 2024, shortly after Trump survived an assassination attempt. Musk, a billionaire tech entrepreneur, has made groundbreaking contributions in multiple industriesparticularly space travel and exploration.
Even before Musk's endorsement, Trump was reportedly considering giving the billionaire an advisory role If elected to a second term, with public support from Musk and financial supportIt now seems even more likely that Trump will offer her an official position in his administration.
As someone who studies Space and international relationsI'm interested to see how Musk might influence US space policy if Trump wins in November. Their alliance could significantly shape the future of US space exploration and defence, as well as shift the balance of power between the public and private sectors in space.
The current US space policy
A country's space policy reflects its vision and priorities for outer space. U.S. space policy – a mix of continuity from previous administrations and recent directives – is outlined in key documents, including the United States National Space Policyhe U.S. Space Priorities Framework, Space policy directives and others official publications.
Current space policy emphasizes maintaining U.S. leadership in space, protecting U.S. space assets, and working with commercial and international partners to promote safe and responsible behavior in space. Key elements include the growth of the American commercial space sector and the return of astronauts to the Moon.
Musk's company SpaceX has been essential to advance these objectivessupporting both POT and the United States Space Force – the newest branch of the U.S. military – on its missions. SpaceX innovations, such as the reusable rocket Falcon 9 rockets, the Star Link Satellite Internet and the powerful Spaceshiphave dramatically transformed access to and use of outer space.
The Trump administration of 2016-2020 advanced many of the current goals of US space policy, some of which align closely with Musk's own ambitions for space.
Space synergy: Trump and Musk's shared ambitions
Trump and Musk agree on three main objectives in space.
First, both are committed to human expansion beyond Earth. Directive 1 on space policySigned on December 11, 2017, it put the United States on track to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a permanent presence there, followed by human missions to Mars and beyond.
This directive aligns with Musk's vision of colonizing Marsguiding the development of Starship: The most powerful and massive spacecraft ever built.Designed for be completely reusableThe spacecraft will carry large payloads and be capable of deep space travel, including lunar landings and trips to the Red Planet.
From NASA Artemis Programwhich originated from Trump's Space Policy Directive 1, plans to return humans to the Moon By 2026To achieve this goal, NASA partnered with SpaceX In 2021, the Starship Human Landing System spacecraft will be developed, which will transport astronauts and cargo from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and vice versa.
Second, both Trump and Musk support commercial involvement in space. Trump’s Space Policy Directive 1 specifically calls for commercial and international partnerships, which marks a milestone. change from the previous administrationPresident Joe Biden has continued This push to develop a robust U.S. commercial space sector.
This recognition of the critical role that private industries can play in space exploration is consistent with Musk's track record as an entrepreneur and innovator. Under Musk's leadership, SpaceX has not only provided essential services to NASAbut has also taken innovation to new heights. The company has made significant progress lowered the cost of space adventures and made the space more accessible for a wider audience of space explorers.
Third, both are in favor of deregulation. The Trump administration sought to reduce regulatory barriers through directives like yours. Space Policy Directive No. 2whose goal was to simplify commercial space regulations to encourage faster growth and innovation in the private space industry.
Still, Musk has often found existing ones to be Space regulations are too restrictiveIt has often defied US regulators – like the Federal Aviation Administration which oversees launch and reentry requirements, and has called for “comprehensive deregulation.”
Contrasting space visions: Musk vs. Trump
In terms of space priorities, Musk differs from Trump in three main ways.
First, Musk focuses on the long term goal to make humanity a multiplanetary speciesstarting with colonizing Mars and Establish a self-sustaining human presence there.
Instead, Trump's space strategy focused on asserting U.S. leadership by achieving near-Earth, near-term milestones, such as returning Americans to the Moon. Accordingly, during his presidency, Trump prioritized the Artemis program and launched the Space Force to safeguarding U.S. capabilities In space.
Secondly, although both value the private sector, Musk, through SpaceX, has pushed cost reduction, innovation and rapid iteration in space technology. SpaceX's Falcon rockets have Refluxed about 300 timessignificantly reducing the costs of spaceflight. SpaceX also achieved significant milestones in commercial spaceflight, including becoming the first private company to Sending astronauts to the International Space Station.
Instead, to fund the Artemis program, Trump asked A significant increase in NASA's budget. This measure emphasized investment in government-led programs to achieve space objectives.
Third, Musk seems more open to sharing proprietary informationeven with his competitors. He famously stated that “Patents are for the weak”, arguing that they block innovation and stifle progress. While Musk continues patenting inventions, including those related to SpaceXHe has also expressed support for fostering innovation through openness and collaboration.
Instead, Trump's space policy focused on national security and strategic competition. The creation of the Space Force reflected Trump's vision of space as a contested military domain where the United States must protect its assets and maintain a competitive advantage.
Musk's potential impact on future US space policy
If Musk were to take on a larger, more formal role in a second Trump administration, he would likely push for ambitious space missions and concrete timelines. The initial focus would remain on the Artemis program and lunar settlements, with a time frame that would shift more toward human missions to Mars and beyond.
A Trump-Musk alliance would likely push for even more commercialization of space. Musk could advocate for greater deregulation of space activities, which could challenge existing safety standards. While Musk would also likely push for cost reduction and innovation. and efficiencyIt would be interesting to see how their efforts against government bureaucracy would succeed.
It's unclear whether Musk will impact U.S. space policy in relation to international competitors like China. However, Musk's presence in a second Trump administration could shed light on whether commercial space players can help. reduce tensions Between countries in space.
Musk is not a politician. He is a visionary and a problem solver focused on the future of humanity. These qualities will likely define his impact on American space policy as well.
Svetla Ben-ItzhakAssistant Professor of Space and International Relations, Johns Hopkins University
This article is republished from The conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the Original article.
