After the retirement of the Space Shuttle, NASA paid Russia to send astronauts via its Soyuz spacecraft—a costly and geopolitically tense solution. Experts warn that cancelling SpaceX’s contracts could force the U.S. back into that position.
“It would be a significant blow to U.S. national security interests,” said Benjamin Schmitt, senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.
National Security Implications
The stakes go beyond science. The Department of Defense depends on SpaceX for GPS, military coordination, and intelligence satellites. Losing this capability, even temporarily, could cripple communications and navigation systems during a conflict.
“Space is getting militarized. There are both offensive and defensive weapons that could be put into space,” said Darrell West of the Brookings Institution.
With Russia building its own station, the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS), set to begin construction in 2027, any shift in space partnerships could bolster Moscow’s strategic position.
Are There Alternatives?
Other companies like Blue Origin and Boeing exist, but they lack the infrastructure and launch cadence of SpaceX.
