Mars Can Wait: Why America Must Prioritize Cislunar Space

Space Technology and Policy

Good morning,

Elon Musk stated this week that we should deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) as soon as possible.

This statement came shortly after Musk got into a spat with three ISS astronauts, who pointed out Musk’s lie that NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams had been abandoned for ‘political reasons.’ It would be easy to assume that he’s frustrated with the ISS program in general and this was the tipping point.

But that’s not what Musk cares about; Musk wants to go to Mars.

The eccentric billionaire and Trump’s hatchet man has long held an inspired and inspiring aspiration to reach Mars. And, Musk’s vision has already shaped the trajectory of U.S. space efforts, but his disdain for cislunar programs risks undermining critical national objectives.

Last month, he stated that NASA’s planned return to the Moon is a distraction on the way to Mars. If he had it his way, we’d stop virtually all space spending that was advancing towards crewed Mars missions.

Musk p…