The fate of NASA’s long-developed and much-delayed lunar program could depend on the whims of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. And with Musk already critical of NASA’s heavy-lift rocket program and Congress’ lunar ambitions, lawmakers are preemptively coming to the program’s defense.
Members of Congress from both parties take deep pride in NASA’s Space Launch System, a hulking 322-foot rocket that has launched one test flight ahead of a manned mission set for next year. Musk, who has a vested interest in space as chief executive of SpaceX and sweeping latitude to reshape the government, has long been a critic of the Space Launch System and finds manned missions to the moon “a distraction.”
The split comes at a time when some Republicans are urging Musk to scale back cuts ordered by his Department of Government Efficiency amid blowback from constituents. GOP lawmakers, many of whom rely on the Space Launch System to deliver jobs in their states and districts, told NOTUS they appreciated Musk’s thoughts but are dead set on forging ahead with their lunar program.