Rocket Report: SpaceX’s 500th Falcon launch; why did UK’s Reaction Engines fail?

Prefabricated homes painted black, white, and gray are set against the backdrop of SpaceX's Starship rocket factory at Starbase, Texas. Credit: Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images

Welcome to Edition 7.47 of the Rocket Report! Let's hope not, but the quarrel between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk may be remembered as "Black Thursday" for the US space program. A simmering disagreement over Trump's signature "One Big Beautiful Bill" coursing its way through Congress erupted into public view, with two of the most powerful Americans trading insults and threats on social media. Trump suggested the government should terminate "Elon's governmental contracts and subsidies." Musk responded with a post saying SpaceX will begin decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft used to transport crew and cargo to the International Space Station. This could go a number of ways, but it's hard to think anything good will come of ...