Despite ongoing federal investigations into Elon Musk and his various business ventures, SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Musk, is stepping up to assist NASA in bringing home astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stationed at the ISS since June, after being transported there by Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for what was initially planned to be a brief, one-week mission. However, technical issues, including helium leaks and problems with the spacecraft’s thrusters, led NASA and Boeing to launch an extensive investigation into the malfunctions. Following weeks of scrutiny, NASA announced on Saturday that the Starliner would return to Earth uncrewed, while Wilmore and Williams would return to Earth early next year via SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon mission. This mission, now being reconfigured to accommodate the astronauts’ return, is scheduled for no earlier than September 24.
This development unfolds as Musk and his businesses, particularly SpaceX, have been under intense legal and regulatory examination by the federal government.
One of the major concerns involves SpaceX, which is currently under investigation by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The investigation stems from allegations that the company coerced employees into signing unlawful severance agreements. However, this investigation is temporarily halted after SpaceX filed a lawsuit challenging the NLRB’s structure. A federal judge in Texas ruled last month that SpaceX’s lawsuit could proceed, effectively pausing the NLRB’s investigation.
Additionally, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against SpaceX last year, accusing the company of discriminatory hiring practices against asylum seekers and refugees. SpaceX refuted these claims, arguing that its hiring practices are dictated by export control laws and regulations. The company responded by challenging the constitutionality of the DOJ’s administrative judges, asserting that they exercise executive power and should therefore be appointed by the president. A federal judge sided with SpaceX, putting the DOJ’s case on hold pending further legal developments.
Musk’s other ventures are also facing scrutiny. Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer where Musk serves as CEO, is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to a Reuters report, the investigation focuses on whether Tesla made misleading statements about its self-driving feature, potentially deceiving consumers and investors into believing that the cars were fully autonomous.
Furthermore, the SEC is also probing Musk’s 2022 acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, under a Musk-led ownership group. The regulators are investigating whether Musk violated federal securities laws during the takeover. Musk has dismissed the investigation as harassment, which led him to skip a deposition last fall. However, a judge ruled this spring that Musk must comply with the SEC’s subpoena. After the SEC won its case to compel Musk’s participation, he agreed in late May to be questioned by the SEC at an undisclosed date and decided not to appeal the ruling.
In the midst of these legal challenges, SpaceX’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of the astronauts underscores the company’s pivotal role in NASA’s operations, even as its CEO faces mounting legal scrutiny.
