Interim NASA chief Sean Duffy and billionaire Elon Musk exchanged sharp remarks online over who should lead the space agency, a day after Duffy invited companies to compete with Musk's "SpaceX" for a moon landing mission, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
The dispute between NASA and the CEO of "SpaceX" went public after Musk responded on the social media platform "X" to reports that Duffy wanted to transfer the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the Department of Transportation. Duffy is also the Secretary of Transportation.
"The person in charge of America's space program cannot be low IQ," Musk wrote.
A day earlier, Duffy told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" that SpaceX's Starship development was lagging behind the agency's Artemis program, which is competing with China's lunar program, in order to return humans to the moon.
As a result, Duffy said NASA will invite other companies to compete for the mission that SpaceX was awarded. in 2021.
A NASA spokeswoman said Duffy was focused on beating China in the race for a lunar mission.
"Sean said NASA could benefit from being part of the cabinet, perhaps even within the Department of Transportation, but he never said he wanted to keep that position for himself," she added, referring to a report in the "Wall Street Journal" that suggested such a move could secure Duffy's role at NASA.
Musk and "SpaceX" did not respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported.
"I love the passion. The race to the moon is on," Duffy said on Tuesday, responding to a post by Musk that "Starship" "will eventually complete the entire mission to the Moon".
"Big companies shouldn't be afraid of challenges," Duffy added.