NASA head Bill Nelson expressed concerns over reports suggesting multiple conversations between Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin, implying a need for an investigation.
The News
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the necessity for an investigation into a Wall Street Journal report regarding alleged calls between SpaceX founder Elon Musk and Russian President Vladimir Putin, described as "concerning" if true.
Concerns Raised
Bill Nelson stated uncertainty around the truth of the report but suggested if Musk had indeed spoken with Putin multiple times, it could raise significant national security issues, particularly concerning NASA and the Department of Defense.
SpaceX's Role
Highlighting SpaceX's critical partnership with NASA, Nelson mentioned recent successful missions and praised SpaceX’s operational independence under CEO Gwynne Shotwell while noting Musk's successful contributions.
Allegations of Contact
The report insinuated that Musk has been in regular contact with Putin since late 2022, discussing various topics, including business and geopolitical tensions, raising alarms about Musk's visibility into sensitive American space programs.
Kremlin's Response
The Kremlin responded to the allegations, claiming that Musk and Putin had only one conversation concerning space and future technologies, dismissing claims of ongoing discussions.
