Is Elon Musk the US government's next big contractor? The SpaceX CEO is under fire for his recent closed-door meeting with a Pentagon suit.
Elon Musk's recent successes apparently caught the Pentagon's attention. He met with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Wednesday for a closed-door meeting, consulted in effort to step up innovation in US defense.
Is SpaceX In With US Defense?
The space race has recently become commercialized, and with more contractors and businessmen investing, the government wants to ensure it's still at par with the latest breakthroughs. As for Musk, he is also looking to secure more contracts for SpaceX, his bid in the future of space flight. SpaceX's business model is launching satellites as a service.
CNN reports neither Carter nor Musk made any comment about the meeting, but department spokesman Cook confirmed that Carter is soliciting feedback and ideas from the technology community, keeping up to date on the 'world of innovation.'
Musk Is Real-World Tony Stark
Musk's Twitter post might offer a clue regarding the details, though. Musing on the CNN report, he tweeted: "Something about a metal flying suit...," which is in reference to Iron Man from Marvel Comics, a character he was associated with in the past.
Reports point out the issue regarding conflict of interest. The closed-door meeting was between the Secretary of Defense and a defense contractor, which raises questions on integrity. Cook said that "the secretary knows very well the rules and regulations required, and how to keep those issues separate and apart and transparent."
The spokesman said one of Secretary Carter's goals is to bridge the gap between the Pentagon and the local companies comprising the technology industry. If ever Musk secures more deals with the department, his company will join the ranks of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, major contractors in defense and war armaments.
An IGN report compared Musk to Tony Stark, which in many ways is justified. Musk's most recent achievement involved deploying satellites, and then landing the rockets used for the launch. Musk is also vocal about his vision to realize a Martian colony.
