SpaceX's Musk and Russian President Putin: A Surprising Connection?

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has raised eyebrows with his recent comments about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's alleged conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking at the Semafor's World Economy Summit, Nelson expressed his concerns about the potential implications of these discussions. The Wall Street Journal had reported that Musk and Putin have been talking regularly since the start of the Ukraine conflict, with Putin even requesting that SpaceX's Starlink service not be activated in Taiwan. Nelson admitted he wasn't sure if the story was true but thought it should be investigated.

He emphasized that such conversations would be worrying for NASA, the Department of Defense, and intelligence agencies. Despite Musk's increasing criticism of the Biden administration and his recent endorsement of Donald Trump, Nelson has avoided direct criticism. He prefers to work with SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, praising her leadership and the company's success. At the summit, Nelson reiterated his confidence in Shotwell and SpaceX but also voiced his worries about the potential political entanglements.

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