Elon Musk has sharply criticized NASA’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy, claiming he lacks the intelligence to lead the agency. Musk’s remarks came after NASA stated it would consider lunar landers not produced by his company, SpaceX.
On X, Musk wrote that Duffy was “trying to kill NASA” and added, “the person responsible for America's space program can't have a 2 digit IQ.” He also questioned, “Should someone whose biggest claim to fame is climbing trees be running America’s space program?”
While SpaceX’s Starship rocket has been central to NASA’s Artemis program, the agency is now inviting other companies, including Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, to submit bids. This move comes as NASA works to ensure the U.S. returns humans to the Moon before China.
Speaking to CNBC, Duffy said, “We are not going to wait for one company. We’re going to push this forward and win the second space race against the Chinese. Get back to the Moon, set up a camp, a base.”
Musk defended SpaceX’s progress, stating, “SpaceX is moving like lightning compared to the rest of the space industry. Moreover, Starship will end up doing the whole Moon mission. Mark my words.”
Background of the Musk-Duffy feud
The tensions between Musk and Duffy trace back to the Trump administration. President Donald Trump initially nominated Jared Isaacman, a close Musk associate, to lead NASA, but later withdrew the nomination, reportedly due to political tensions.
Duffy, a former congressman and reality TV personality, was appointed acting NASA administrator and U.S. Transportation Secretary, cementing the perception that SpaceX was being sidelined.
Musk has repeatedly endorsed Isaacman as the most qualified candidate for the top NASA role, calling him “literally the most qualified and best person to be the new head of NASA.”
Adding to the controversy, reports suggested that Duffy considered merging NASA into the U.S. Department of Transportation, a proposal Musk criticized as potentially catastrophic for U.S. space dominance.
Duffy responds to Musk
Duffy, emphasizing competition in the space sector, told X followers: “Love the passion. Great companies shouldn't be afraid of a challenge. When our innovators compete with each other, America wins!”
He stressed the importance of multiple companies contributing to the Artemis mission, noting delays in SpaceX’s Starship schedule: “I love SpaceX. It's an amazing company. The problem is, they're behind. They pushed their timelines out and we're in a race against China,” he said on Fox News.
Duffy also highlighted potential bids from competitors, stating the U.S. requires the best companies to ensure Moon missions succeed.
The race to the Moon
The Artemis program aims to land humans on the Moon, with Artemis 3 now scheduled for mid-2027. Musk remains confident in SpaceX’s capabilities, while Duffy emphasizes the need for speed and competition to outpace China in the new space race.
This ongoing feud has kept the spotlight on who will become the permanent leader of NASA. While Trump reportedly still considers Isaacman, Duffy is reportedly eager to maintain his position as acting administrator.
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