Tech

NASA’s Administrator Hates Elon Musk, But Trusts Spacex Because Someone Else Is Running It

NASA’s head Bill Nelson has been one of Elon Musk’s harshest critics, but he said he trusts SpaceX because someone other than the eccentric billionaire is running it.

In an interview with NPR, Nelson addressed concerns about Musk’s involvement in SpaceX, a company that is heavily funded by government contracts and that has worked closely with NASA. When asked about Musk’s decision-making and its potential impact on NASA’s plans, Nelson highlighted that the reason he trusts SpaceX is because its president is not Musk.

“Elon Musk… one of the most important decisions he made is he picked a president named Gwynne Shotwell,” Nelson responded. “She runs SpaceX. She is excellent. And so I have no concerns.”

Nelson’s confidence in Shotwell is not new. After Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in late 2022, Nelson sought reassurance from Shotwell that the distraction wouldn’t affect SpaceX’s operations. Shotwell assured him that SpaceX remained unaffected by Musk’s other ventures.

“She told me it hadn’t harmed the spaceflight company and that I had ‘nothing to worry about,'” Nelson recounted. “I hugged her with a smile on my face because I know she is running that thing. She’s running SpaceX.”

According to Futurism, Nelson’s stance on Musk has evolved over time. Lori Garver, former deputy director of NASA, said Nelson was once a vocal opponent of Musk and SpaceX. In her memoir, “Escaping Gravity: My Quest to Transform NASA and Launch a New Space Age,” Garver recalls Nelson’s strong opposition to SpaceX when he was a senator, even shouting at her to “‘get your boy Elon in line.'”

While Nelson has publicly softened his stance on Musk, he occasionally lets his skepticism show. Given NASA’s substantial investment in SpaceX, it’s understandable why he remains vigilant about the company’s leadership and direction.

RA Staff

Written by RA News staff.

Recent Posts

House Sends Ten Commandments Bill Back to Committee

During floor debate on Wednesday, the Texas…

9 hours ago

Patrick Reportedly Unwilling to Back Any Basic Allotment Increase

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is reportedly unwilling…

12 hours ago

Controversial Firearms Bill Moves Forward Without Public Input

The controversial Senate Bill 1065 aimed at…

13 hours ago

HISD Expands Armed Officer Coverage, Eyes 100 Campuses Next Year

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles…

15 hours ago

$55 Basic Allotment Bump is Just a “Golden Penny” Rebrand

The Texas Senate on Thursday unveiled its…

1 day ago

Texas Senate Approves ‘Uvalde Strong Act’ to Reform Emergency Protocols

The Texas Senate unanimously approved the "Uvalde…

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.