Nelson made these comments to Semafor during the World Economy Summit in Washington, D.C.
“I don’t know if that story is true,” Nelson said. “If it’s true, there have been multiple conversations with Elon Musk and the president of Russia, then that would be concerning, particularly for NASA and the Department of Defense,” Nelson said.
SpaceX plays a key role in U.S. space initiatives, including launching national security satellites and transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Although Elon Musk has publicly supported former President Donald Trump and founded a super PAC for his reelection, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that NASA remains nonpartisan, and his primary point of contact at SpaceX is CEO Gwynne Shotwell.
Nelson told Semafor that his working relationship with Shotwell has been “phenomenally successful.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk has regularly communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. Their discussions have reportedly included personal matters, business topics, and geopolitical issues.
The report indicated that Musk’s contact with Putin could suggest renewed engagement with the Russian leader and aligns with Trump’s suggestion to negotiate a settlement in the Ukraine conflict.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that Putin requested Musk refrain from enabling his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
