**NASA's Bill Nelson Raises Concern Over Reported Musk-Putin Conversations**

WASHINGTON – NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has expressed worry concerning allegations that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been in communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin. His comments came during Semafor’s World Economy Summit on October 25, marking Nelson's most vocal critique yet of Musk, whose company NASA depends on for key missions and transporting crews to the International Space Station.

In an interview at the summit, Nelson addressed a report from the Wall Street Journal, which claimed that Musk has had regular discussions with Putin over the past two years, beginning after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The article alleges that both current and former officials from the US, Europe, and Russia confirmed these conversations.

One specific interaction highlighted in the report is Putin's request for SpaceX to refrain from activating its Starlink service over Taiwan as Russia sought support from China. While SpaceX does not currently offer Starlink in Taiwan, it is not clear if this request influenced that decision.

“If these reports are accurate, it is indeed troubling, especially for NASA, the Department of Defense, and intelligence agencies,” Nelson stated, emphasizing the need for an investigation.

Despite the troubling reports, Nelson has generally refrained from direct criticism of Musk, even as the entrepreneur has openly condemned the Biden administration and endorsed Donald Trump for president. Musk's endorsement has evolved into active campaigning for Trump, with Musk holding town halls in pivotal states like Pennsylvania.

Nelson clarified that his interactions with SpaceX are mostly with Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief operating officer, who manages the company's daily functions. "Elon leaves the running of SpaceX to Gwynne Shotwell, and she is fantastic," he remarked at a Politico event on July 30. He acknowledged SpaceX’s achievements, particularly praising the success of the Falcon 9.

Although Nelson does occasionally communicate with Musk and Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos, he reiterated his confidence in both companies’ contributions to NASA’s mission. At the Semafor event, he prefaced his concerns by praising Shotwell, reasserting her role in the company’s success.

Nelson concluded by calling for a detailed probe into the reported Musk-Putin conversations, concerned about their potential implications for national security and NASA’s operations.