NASA Chief: Elon Musk ‘Should Be Investigated’ for Putin Connection

Report alleges the SpaceX CEO and Russian president have been in regular contact since late 2022.

Friday, October 25, 2024 at 02:27 PM ET

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NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has raised concerns about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s alleged connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has called for an investigation into alleged "secret conversations" between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
These alleged ties raise significant concerns for U.S. government agencies, particularly NASA and the Department of Defense, given SpaceX's critical role as their primary commercial partner.
SpaceX holds billions of dollars in high-value government contracts for essential missions, including astronaut transport, lunar lander development, national security launches, and even decommissioning the ISS.
The U.S. government's heavy reliance on SpaceX creates a potential dilemma, especially with reports suggesting the Kremlin has attempted to exert influence over Musk's businesses.

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NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Friday said the alleged connection between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Russian President Vladimir Putin, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, “should be investigated.”

According to the report, current and former American, European, and Russian officials confirmed the relationship between the billionaire business mogul and Kremlin leader, which they say began in late 2022 and has continued into this year.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.