Musk, NASA Chief Duffy Jostle Over Space Agency Leadership | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Acting NASA chief Sean Duffy and billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday traded barbs on-line over who ought to lead the house company, a day after Duffy invited firms to compete with Musk’s SpaceX for a moon touchdown mission.

The spat involving the U.S. house program and the SpaceX CEO, which have intensive monetary ties, spilled into public view after Musk responded on social media platform X to experiences Duffy needs to fold the National Aeronautics and Space Administration into the Transportation Department. Duffy can be the Transportation Secretary.

“The person responsible for America’s space program can’t have a 2 digit IQ,” Musk wrote.

The day earlier than, Duffy stated on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” program that growth of SpaceX’s Starship is delayed in its mission to return people to the moon below the company’s Artemis program, an effort rivaling China’s moon program.

As a outcome, Duffy stated, NASA will invite different firms to compete for the mission, which was awarded to SpaceX in 2021.

A NASA spokeswoman stated Duffy is targeted on beating China to the Moon.

“Sean said that NASA might benefit from being part of the Cabinet, maybe even within the Department of Transportation, but he’s never said he wants to keep the job himself,” she added, referring to a Wall Street Journal report stating that such a transfer might safe Duffy’s function at NASA.

Musk and SpaceX didn’t reply to requests for remark.

“Love the passion. The race to the Moon is ON,” Duffy stated on X on Tuesday, replying to a Musk put up that guess Starship will “end up doing the whole Moon mission.”

“Great companies shouldn’t be afraid of a challenge,” Duffy added.

(Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Chris Sanders and Christopher Cushing)