What happens in Washington decidedly does not stay in Washington, with practically every action taken by the richest and most powerful country in the world having a near-immediate global reaction—on tariffs,

A public dispute between President Trump and Elon Musk has jeopardised US space leadership. Proposed budget cuts threaten NASA missions, especially climate science and planetary exploration, while prioritising lunar and Mars ambitions.

When the most influential tech billionaire in the world and the U.S. president square off in a high-stakes game of political brinkmanship, what results? The response appears to compromise America’s supremacy in space.