Elon Musk officially endorsed Donald Trump for President of the United States on July 13, 2024, shortly after Trump survived an assassination attempt. Musk, a billionaire technology entrepreneur, has made groundbreaking contributions across multiple industries, most notably aerospace and space exploration.
Even before Musk's endorsement, Trump was reportedly considering giving the billionaire an advisory role if he were elected to a second term. With Musk's public support and financial backing, it now seems even more likely that Trump would offer him an official position in his administration.
As someone who studies space and international relations, I'm interested in how Musk might impact U.S. space policy if Trump wins in November. Their partnership could significantly shape the future of U.S. space and defense, and shift the balance of power between the public and private sectors in space.
Current US Space Policy
A country's space policy reflects its vision and priorities for space. U.S. space policy-a mix of continuity from previous administrations and recent guidance-is set forth in key documents including the U.S. National Space Policy, the U.S. Space Priorities Framework, Space Policy Guidelines, and other 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, secure, and responsible behavior in space. Key elements include growing the U.S. commercial space sector and returning astronauts to the moon.
Musk's company SpaceX has played a major role in advancing these goals, supporting both NASA and the U.S. Space Force-the newest branch of the U.S. military-in their missions. SpaceX's innovations, such as its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, Starlink satellite internet, and the powerful Starship, have dramatically changed access to and use of space.
The Trump administration from 2016 to 2020 advanced many of the current US space goals, some of which closely align with Musk's own space ambitions.
Space Synergy: Trump and Musk's Shared Ambitions
Trump and Musk agree on three main goals in space.
First, both are committed to human expansion beyond Earth. Trump's Space Policy Directive 1, signed on December 11, 2017, set the U.S. on a course 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 to colonize Mars, which is guiding the development of Starship: the most powerful and massive spacecraft ever built. Starship is designed to be fully reusable, will carry large payloads, and will be capable of deep space travel-including moon landings and trips to the Red Planet.
NASA's Artemis program, which emerged from Trump's Space Policy Directive 1, aims to return humans to the moon by 2026. To achieve this goal, NASA partnered with SpaceX in 2021 to develop the Starship Human Landing System spacecraft, which will ferry astronauts and cargo from lunar orbit to the lunar surface and back.
Second, both Trump and Musk support commercial involvement in space. Trump's Space Policy Directive 1 specifically calls for commercial and international partnerships, marking a shift from the previous administration. President Joe Biden has continued this push to develop a robust commercial U.S. space sector.
This recognition of the critical role that private industries can play in space exploration aligns with Musk's track record as an entrepreneur and innovator. Under Musk, SpaceX has not only provided essential services to NASA, but has also taken innovation to new heights. The company has significantly reduced the cost of space travel and made space more accessible to a wider audience of space explorers.
Third, both are proponents of deregulation. The Trump administration has sought to reduce regulatory barriers through directives such as his Space Policy Directive 2, which aimed to streamline commercial space regulations to encourage faster growth and innovation in the private space industry.
Still, Musk has often found existing space regulations too restrictive. He has frequently challenged U.S. regulators - such as the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees launch and reentry requirements - and called for "broad deregulation."
Contrasting Space Visions: Musk vs. Trump
When it comes to space priorities, Musk differs from Trump in three key ways.
First, Musk is focused on the long-term goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species, starting with colonizing Mars and establishing a self-sustaining human presence there.
In contrast, Trump's approach to space emphasized asserting American leadership by achieving near-Earth and near-term milestones, such as returning Americans to the moon. Consequently, Trump prioritized the Artemis program during his presidency and launched the Space Force to protect U.S. capabilities in space.
Second, while both value the private sector, Musk, through SpaceX, has pushed for cost reduction, innovation, and rapid iteration in space technology. SpaceX's Falcon rockets have been reflown about 300 times, significantly reducing the cost of spaceflight. SpaceX has also achieved major milestones in commercial spaceflight, including becoming the first private company to send astronauts to the International Space Station.
In contrast, to fund the Artemis program, Trump called for a significant increase in NASA's budget. This move emphasized investing in government-led programs to achieve space goals.
Third, Musk appears to be more open to sharing proprietary information, even with his competitors. He famously stated that "patents are for the weak," arguing that they block innovation and stifle progress. While Musk continues to patent inventions, including those related to SpaceX, he has also expressed support for fostering innovation through openness and collaboration.
In contrast, 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 U.S. must protect its assets and maintain a competitive edge.
Musk's likely influence on future US space policy
If Musk were to take on a larger, formal role in a second Trump administration, he would likely push for ambitious space missions and timelines. The initial focus would remain on the Artemis program and lunar settlements, with increasing attention eventually shifting to human missions to Mars and beyond.
A Trump-Musk partnership would likely further advance the commercialization of space. Musk could advocate for greater deregulation of space activities, potentially challenging existing safety and security standards. While Musk would also likely push for cost reduction, innovation, and efficiency, it would be interesting to see how his efforts stack up against government bureaucracy.
Whether Musk would have any influence on U.S. space policy in relation to international competitors such as China remains uncertain. However, Musk's presence in a second Trump administration could shed light on whether commercial space actors could help ease tensions between nations in space.
Musk is not a politician. He is a visionary focused on the future of humanity. These qualities will likely also determine his impact on U.S. space policy.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization that brings you facts and reliable analysis to help you understand our complex world. It was written by: Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Johns Hopkins University Read more: Svetla Ben-Itzhak is not an employee of, an advisor to, an owner of shares in, or a recipient of funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, nor has he disclosed any relevant affiliations beyond his academic appointment.
