On May 27, the ninth test lifted off at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. While the vehicle successfully reached the Earth's orbit, an apparent propellant leak caused a loss of altitude. According to ABC News, the spacecraft began spinning and mission control could no longer control it.

On a recent episode of What Next, host Mary Harris spoke to Foer about how the history of NASA and its reliance on contractors paved the way for Elon Musk’s space monopoly. This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mary Harris: Tell me about Elon Musk. How does he enter the picture as a contractor with NASA?