SpaceX

Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, known for its ambitious goals like missions to Mars and NASA’s Moon landings, is now facing a serious workplace safety crisis. Two former employees have filed lawsuits alleging wrongful termination and warning that employee health was sacrificed in the name of speed and cost-cutting.

“It could kill someone.” Safety warning allegedly ignored
Robert Markert, a former supervisor who worked at SpaceX for 13 years, claims in a lawsuit that he warned management about a potentially deadly step in the rocket fairing removal process. He says his concerns were ignored because a more dangerous method was “cheaper.” Months later, he was fired.
Also suing is David Lavalle, a plumber who joined the company in 2014. He says serious workplace injuries — including a broken leg, severe neck pain, and wrist issues — were ignored by the company. Fearing retaliation, he refrained from claiming full compensation. After taking medical leave for gout-related knee pain, he was terminated just nine days later. Lavalle also claims older workers were targeted, particularly after the company hired a 28-year-old executive named Scott Hiler.
Both complaints were initially filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and later moved to federal court.

Exhaustion and overwork: 20 straight days on the job
Markert also revealed that some SpaceX technicians were working 15 to 20 consecutive days in high-pressure conditions. When he raised concerns about fatigue and lack of training, he was told “the schedule comes first.” He pushed for more training and certifications, but management allegedly refused, saying there was “no time or money” for it.

Injury rate at SpaceX far above industry average
According to TechCrunch, SpaceX had a worker injury rate nearly triple the aerospace industry average in 2024. At the Starbase facility in Texas, there were 4.27 injuries per 100 workers, compared to the industry norm of 1.6. On the West Coast, where rocket fairing recovery operations take place, the injury rate spiked to 7.6 incidents per 100 workers.

Starship lost over the ocean – investigation launched
At the end of May 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched a formal investigation after a Starship test flight spiraled out of control over the Indian Ocean. Although the rocket launched successfully from Texas and flew farther than previous attempts, it ultimately broke apart mid-air. No injuries or public safety hazards were reported.
The rocket’s first stage — reused from a prior launch — also broke up over the Gulf of Mexico, but this was expected and approved by regulators. According to the FAA, all debris fell into predesignated hazard zones.

Musk pushes for faster testing despite risks
Elon Musk continues to push for faster Starship testing, hoping to pave the way for manned missions to Mars. Meanwhile, NASA plans to use Starship to land astronauts on the Moon in upcoming missions.

The question remains whether SpaceX can balance its bold technological ambitions with the safety of the people who bring those ambitions to life.

#ElonMusk , #SpaceX , #NASA , #worldnews , #Musk

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Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan is calling on Elon Musk to take urgent action to stop transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia from abusing SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service to scam American citizens. According to her, the service is being used to run large-scale cyber fraud operations targeting the West.
These criminal syndicates are reportedly operating from countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. In these regions—marked by weak infrastructure and limited oversight—they have established so-called “fraud centers” used to run phishing campaigns, fake investment platforms, romance scams, and other cybercrimes. Starlink’s satellite internet allows them to stay online even when disconnected from local networks.

📡 Starlink Under Fire
In her letter to Musk, Senator Hassan pointed out that Starlink’s own terms of service allow the company to terminate access if used for illegal activity—and she urged SpaceX to enforce that policy.
“SpaceX has a responsibility to ensure its technology isn’t being used as a tool by global cybercriminals targeting Americans,” Hassan wrote.
So far, SpaceX has not publicly responded to the senator’s concerns or the allegations made in the letter.

🛰️ Satellite Internet as a Weapon for Scammers
Despite measures taken by Thailand in February—including cutting off electricity, fuel, and internet access in five border areas—Starlink remains a crucial tool for these criminal groups. Its portability and independence from local infrastructure allow uninterrupted communication with victims and collaborators abroad.
Concerns deepened after the shocking kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing. After arriving in Thailand in January, Wang was abducted and taken across the border into Myanmar, where he was held in one of the fraud compounds before being rescued by Thai police. The incident sparked public outcry and reinforced regional cooperation to dismantle the networks responsible.

🌐 Organized Crime Costing Billions
According to the U.S. Institute of Peace and the U.S. Treasury’s FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network), these Southeast Asian fraud operations have cost American citizens billions in losses. Many of the scam centers are believed to be run by China-linked organized crime groups that take advantage of weak legal enforcement in regions like Myawaddy.
The United States is now calling on the private sector—including companies like SpaceX—to play a more active role in fighting this new era of tech-driven transnational crime.

#ElonMusk , #starlink , #cybercrime , #USPolitics , #SpaceX

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In a surprise statement Thursday, Donald Trump confirmed he won’t cut federal funding to Elon Musk’s ventures — despite rising tensions between the two titans.
💬 On Truth Social, Trump wrote:
> “I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE… The better they do, the better the USA does.”
This follows speculation that Trump might pull the plug, especially after xAI landed a $200M Pentagon contract to expand military AI capabilities.
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⚔️ From Mutual Praise to Political Fire
Just days ago, Elon slammed Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill” as a “disgusting abomination.”
Trump clapped back, accusing Musk of benefiting from more federal dollars than any businessman in history — even joking:
> “No more rockets, no more EVs… send him back to South Africa?” 🚫
Elon later apologized, admitting he “went too far.” But Trump’s tone remains frosty, despite claiming there are “no hard feelings.”
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🏛️ Washington Sends Mixed Signals
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted that Trump might not fully back Elon’s AI ambitions. She noted that DOJ contracts with xAI’s chatbot "Grok" could be reviewed, casting doubt on the durability of those federal ties.
Meanwhile, rivals like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic have also secured similar $200M Pentagon deals — but only Musk is under the microscope. 👀
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🧠 The Bigger Picture:
Musk’s empire spans Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and xAI
Trump’s stance remains volatile and unpredictable
Billions in federal contracts may hinge more on politics than performance
💣 One tweet could shift the landscape — fast.
Will Elon weather the storm, or is a strategic cut looming?
#TrumpVsElon #Grok #DOGE #AIpolitics #CryptoAndState #xAI #SpaceX #Tesla