SpaceX
SpaceX's Starlink is positioned to take over a $2.4 billion FAA contract from Verizon for overhauling air traffic control communications. A SpaceX-led team within the FAA is recommending the contract transfer, raising concerns about favoritism and conflicts of interest given Elon Musk's involvement in government efficiency initiatives. Musk claims Verizon's system is failing and offers Starlink terminals at no cost to taxpayers.
SpaceX is launching a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a mini data center to the moon as part of Lonestar Data Holdings' mission to establish lunar data storage facilities. The project aims to protect sensitive data from Earth-based hazards and bypass data sovereignty restrictions through space-based storage solutions. The initiative faces challenges like latency and maintenance but offers advantages including natural cooling and potential renewable power operations.
SpaceX engineers have been appointed as senior advisers to the FAA's acting administrator, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest given SpaceX's regulated status. The appointments come after significant FAA employee terminations and recent aviation disasters, with the engineers being hired through Schedule A authority without full vetting. The situation has drawn criticism from Democratic legislators worried about rapid changes to air traffic systems.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk has called for the International Space Station to be deorbited within two years, significantly earlier than NASA's planned 2030 timeline. Despite SpaceX's $843 million contract to assist with the station's eventual deorbit, Musk argues there is little incremental utility in continuing operations.
SpaceX team visits FAA's Air Traffic Control Command Center to help modernize the system amid recent aviation challenges and layoffs. The visit follows a fatal midair collision and comes as hundreds of FAA probationary employees face termination, raising concerns about understaffing and safety.