NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore arrived back on Earth from space on Tuesday. NASA used the SpaceX Dragon to bring Williams and Wilmore successfully back home. Private aerospace companies, such as SpaceX, working closely with NASA could alter space travel or have consequences for the future of science and exploration.
NASA’s purpose is to explore space, innovate for the benefit of humanity and inspire the world through discovery. NASA collaborates with the private sector to operate such space systems with cost-efficiency and reliability to carry crew and cargo to the International Space System.
In 2023, Roxana Barden wrote in a NASA press release, “In 2019, NASA adopted a strategy to help achieve the agency’s goal of a low Earth orbit marketplace where NASA is one of many customers and the private sector leads the way.” A common thought of over-reliance in private sectors is at the front of people’s minds.
Private sectors leading the way for NASA’s operations in seeking manned space travel could lead to a negative shift in focus between the private corporation and NASA. Its goal, to push toward aerospace science and research needs to remain the top priority.
The private companies NASA has been working with can generally release information about exploration in space, where the problem lies in whether they want to release information at all. A worry among some is the accessibility to important industry-altering scientific data.
Casey Dreier wrote for The Planetary Society, “The answer lies in science being a process rather than a product and the inherent uncertainty in turning scientific inquiry into near-term profits.” Science is to be studied and is not to be used as a selling point.
On a larger scale, national security remains a concern when private sectors do not prioritize national aerospace interests. Luckily, NASA makes clear that it wants to benefit human spaceflight and meet future business and government needs when partnering with seven U.S. private sectors.
Jill Hoffman wrote for Medium, “Handing that responsibility to private companies could get tricky,” when NASA reports on climate change and collaborates with the military on defense-related projects.
Musk is a dominant shareholder in SpaceX, allowing him to make major decisions independently by having the majority. A threat within private sectors working with NASA deems conflicts of interest.
The senator of Massachusetts, Ed Markey, said in a news release in February, “Given Elon Musk’s dual positions as CEO of SpaceX and widespread role in the Trump administration, this decision creates an appearance of a conflict of interest.” Markey is referring to concerns about the Federal Aviation Administration’s deployment of Starlink terminals. Starlink, a satellite developed by SpaceX that aims to improve to provide faster internet access, is currently being tested at various locations throughout the U.S. by the FAA.
The current conflicts of interest begin with SpaceX’s employee's role within the FAA and whether ethical concerns are amidst SpaceX’s access to FAA use. This grows a concern for future conflicts of interest among other federal agencies within the U.S.
NASA working with private companies to aim toward affordable space travel and to advance aerospace technology is altering the future of scientific advancements while paving the way for many consequences down the line as this relationship continues. The future of space travel is evolving but it concerns many who care for NASA’s purpose.
Daphne Graeter is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Daphne know by emailing her at dg422421@ohio.edu.
