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flag Congress pushes NASA to reduce reliance on SpaceX for crewed missions amid growing risks from overdependence.

flag U.S. space operations now heavily rely on private companies, particularly SpaceX, which dominates rocket launches and crewed missions after NASA’s 2011 shuttle retirement. flag While commercial partnerships have driven innovation and cost savings, overdependence on SpaceX raises risks, highlighted by a 2025 public dispute involving Elon Musk that briefly threatened crewed operations. flag In response, Congress is pushing for diversification, requiring NASA to reduce reliance on single providers—especially for lunar landers—and maintain backup systems and government expertise. flag Though policy frameworks for a "Plan B" exist, full redundancy remains incomplete, underscoring the need for sustained funding and political commitment to ensure long-term U.S. space resilience and sovereignty.

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