Why the U.S. and SpaceX need each other

SpaceX has around $22 billion in government contracts, according to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket are the primary means by which NASA launches astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. SpaceX's Starlink satellites have become indispensable for providing internet access to remote areas as well as to U.S. allies during wartime. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Starship rocket, though still in testing, is key to U.S. plans to return to the moon.