Associated Press, 15 October 2031 -
Six months after the apparent loss of the MC-1 Mars Colonizer mission, an explosive investigation has revealed that the entire mission was faked using pre-rendered video and simulated telemetry data. President Elon Musk, rather than addressing the scandal, has instead announced that the billions in taxpayer funds allocated for the mission will be âoerepurposed for innovationââ"a move critics say amounts to pocketing the money.
The deception unraveled after whistleblowers within MASC, speaking under condition of anonymity, provided evidence that the dramatic âoecollisionâ with Muskâ(TM)s own Tesla Roadster had been staged using CGI and doctored JWST images. Independent analysts reviewing raw telescope data confirmed that no such impact had occurred, and further scrutiny of MASCâ(TM)s communications logs suggested that the six supposed âoeinterstellar conquistadorsâ had never even left Earthâ(TM)s atmosphere.
When pressed for comment, Musk initially responded on his social media platform XÂ with a cryptic post: âoeSometimes, the greatest journey is the one you imagine. #StockUp #InnovationTaxâ before deleting it minutes later.
Meanwhile, the Trump Residence, which had pushed for the reorientation of the James Webb Space Telescope to investigate the incident, has remained largely silent, with a spokesperson only stating that the matter was being âoelooked into with tremendous focus, believe me.â
As outrage grows, congressional hearings are being scheduled to determine the extent of the fraud and whether any criminal charges should be pursued. Yet, with Musk still holding unprecedented executive power as both President and CEO of MASC, many are questioning whether accountability is even possible.