--- title: "Russian Space Chief: We Would Never Hire Elon Musk" description: "Discover why the head of Russian space agency, Roscomos, has no interest in hiring Elon Musk. Stay up to date with SpaceX news with Futurism." date: "2019-06-10" modified: "2019-06-20" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-space-chief-hire-elon-musk" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "Off-World" - "Space" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "Roscosmos" - "Russia" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # Russian Space Chief: We Would Never Hire Elon Musk ![State-owned media network Russia Today reports that the head of Russian space agency Roscomos Dmitry Rogozin has no interest in hiring SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.]() *\Image: NASA/Victor Tangermann\* ## Dirty Laundry Russia's space agency and SpaceX aren't friends. It's a strained relationship pockmarked by passive aggressive exchanges and trash talk. Now, Russian state-owned media network [*Russia Today* reports]() that the head of Russian space agency Roscomos, Dmitry Rogozin, says he has no interest in hiring SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to help with reusable rocketry — not, to be clear, that he was looking for employment. But Rogozin would be open to meet with Musk if he's ever in town. "He's a busy man, I'm a busy man, why should I invite him?" Rogozin told reporters during a press event this weekend, as quoted by *RT*. ## Elon Vs. Rogozin Rogozin and Musk have had some unusual exchanges on Twitter in the past. Rogozin [congratulated Musk]() over successfully launching the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this year. But their relationship has been more strained in the past, like when Rogozin slammed Musk for "killing competitors" last August. "Musk sells his launches twofold to the Pentagon, covering his losses on the commercial market and killing competitors, who lack such a generous state behind them,” Rogozin said, as [quoted by *RT*](). ## Setbacks Rogozin's comments come after SpaceX's Crew Dragon test spacecraft [exploded]() during an engine test in April. Russian state media also mentioned in yesterday's report the "embarrassing revelation" that the Crew Dragon spacecraft brought a "mysterious alcohol odor aboard the ISS" — though concentrations of isopropyl alcohol were later [confirmed to be nominal]() and were vented out almost immediately after docking. **READ MORE:** [Russian space chief says he would NOT hire Elon Musk]() \[*Russia Today*\] **More on Russia's space efforts:** *[Cosmonauts Hacked Away at the ISS in Search of Sabotage Evidence]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()