The worried reaction within space and national security agencies highlights the risks of government’s exclusive dependence on SpaceX for crucial tasks, including classified missions.
NASA said Thursday it was postponing a launch of private astronauts to the International Space Station while it works with its Russian counterparts to investigate persistent leaks on the orbiting laboratory.
NASA and SpaceX successfully launched another crew to the International Space Station on Friday, as the space agency is losing about one-fifth of its workforce.
The previously untold story of the docking system’s reinvention helps explain how Musk and SpaceX built a culture that allowed them to disrupt the industry.