NASA and Pentagon Urge SpaceX Rivals to Expedite Rocket Development

According to BlockBeats, following a dispute between U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, representatives from NASA and the Pentagon have urged SpaceX competitors to accelerate the development of alternative rockets and spacecraft. The Washington Post reports that government officials have reached out to at least three commercial space companies—Rocket Lab, Stoke Space, and Blue Origin—to inquire about the status of their rockets and their availability for government missions. Musk had previously suggested the possibility of halting flights of the "Dragon" spacecraft, which would disrupt NASA's ability to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Although Musk later retracted this threat, his initial statement raised concerns among NASA officials. The Pentagon also heavily relies on SpaceX for launching its critical satellites.