HomeTech NewsElon Musk's SpaceX Hid Control Issues During Polaris Dawn Mission, Reuters Reveals

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Hid Control Issues During Polaris Dawn Mission, Reuters Reveals

According to Reuters, SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk, concealed details about control problems during the Polaris Dawn mission in September 2024. The mission, which involved four astronauts, including billionaire Jared Isaacman, lasted five days in orbit. The astronauts were unaware of the potential risks they faced during the mission.

Reuters discovered that, before the astronauts launched into space, there was a power failure during one phase of the mission. This caused the spacecraft to lose control for an entire hour. SpaceX did not publicly disclose the incident, instead calling the failure a minor issue that wouldn’t occur again.

SpaceX Covered Up Incident

Reuters highlighted the seriousness of the problem, noting that “the lack of command and control is a serious issue.” Operators on the ground must be able to respond quickly to unexpected situations during a space mission.

It remains unclear whether SpaceX reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, it’s important to note that spaceflight companies like SpaceX are not required to disclose on-orbit incidents. This is due to a 2004 law that exempts space operators from reporting such events.