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The president has threatened to withdraw federal contracts with Musk's company, Space X. Nasa relies on the firm's Falcon 9 rocket fleet to resupply the International Space Station with crew and supplies.

As well as the return of Mars samples and its Rover, ESA risks reduced access to the International Space Station if it is wound down, and the budget cuts cancel Nasa's extensive contributions to its successor, the Lunar Gateway, a multinational space station planned for orbit around the Moon.

Musk threatened to retaliate by decommissioning SpaceX's Dragon, which ferries astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station.

Responding to Trump's suggestion that he could terminate government contracts with Musk's companies, Musk says he will "immediately" decommission the Dragon spacecraft - a craft that is capable of travelling to the International Space Station.

He also said he would “immediately” begin decommissioning the Dragon space shuttle, which carries astronauts to and from the International Space Station.