Elon Musk's latest comments surrounding the International Space Station (ISS) have proven controversial even within the Trump administration, as the SpaceX CEO has called for an early end to NASA's flagship program.
Having been built and launched in 1998, the International Space Station has been one of NASA and the European Space Agency's (ESA) leading achievements when it comes to space travel and research.
It allows astronauts to stay in one safe place while conducting experiments in outer space, and has had a persistent crew on board since 2000 - which is part of the reason why the return of stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams has been so delayed.
Despite widespread praise for the program since its launch, one of it's biggest opponents is SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, who was recently awarded the contract to destroy the ISS after 2030.
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A contract worth around $843,000,000 was awarded to SpaceX, allowing them to send a rocket which would then deorbit and guide the ISS into an uninhabited area of Earth to avoid any collateral damage.
However, Musk has taken to social media and criticized the Space Station program, calling additionally for an earlier end to it's operations in a controversial statement:
"It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the Space Station," Musk proudly declared on X. "It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let's go to Mars."
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He also added, in reply to someone asking whether he wants it to be destroyed prior to the 2030 target, that "the decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend 2 years from now."
Taking Musk's statement at face value it's inferred that he believes that the funding for the ISS should instead be rerouted into a conquest for Mars - something that not only SpaceX but also President Trump have been vocal for.
However, key members inside the Trump administration, including the president, have pushed back against Musk's calls to deorbit the ISS earlier than initially planned.
As reported by Bloomberg, President Trump outlined that he would not let Musk be involved in government work related to space, seemingly limiting him to his DOGE duties, although there's no doubt that Musk has significant power within the current administration.
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Additionally, Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Cruz has also pushed back against Musk's idea, arguing: "We've invested more than $100 billion into the International Space Station, and it would be exceptionally foolhardy to prematurely send all that infrastructure and all those tax dollars to the bottom of the ocean."
Certainly a contradictory move for Musk, who's current focus is saving as much taxpayer money as possible as head of the new Department of Government Efficiency.
He even has astronauts arguing against his actions, with the aforementioned Suni Williams coming to the defense of the ISS when asked about Musk's recent claims.
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She has suggested, like Cruz, that NASA would be wasting tax payer money if things were to prematurely end and the "world class science that this laboratory is capable of" would cease to exist.
Many in Musk's replies have also called into question his push for Mars travel, challenging the idea that reaching and eventually colonizing Mars is the best possible option for humanity.
"So let's spend tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money for an entirely useless manned mission to Mars that serves absolutely no purpose in helping Americans with their daily struggles," wrote one user, adding "those tens of billions of dollars, to you, of course."
Another argued: "Why go to Mars? Seriously what benefit will it serve instead of working on this rock we are sitting on? You just want the money for your project. Just say it."
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Whether President Trump even has the power to push forward the timeline is another question too, as approval would likely be needed from other controlling enterprises including the ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, and CSA.