Two Teslas drove as much as the aircraft, the primary with Musk driving his boys and the second with two safety guys. Musk strode onto the jet, noticed me, and stated he didn’t notice I used to be going to be on the aircraft. (A fantastic begin to issues!) Musk then took out his cellphone and began a heated dialog about digging tunnels. By this level, I used to be keen myself to vanish. I simply needed to soften into the leather-based seat I used to be sitting in about three ft from Musk.
A lot for temper for the interview.
Because the jet climbed, the cellphone dialog received worse, however then Musk misplaced his connection. He put away his cellphone and turned to me, saying he was free to speak. His temper, nearly as if by magic, modified. Since we have been discussing the early days of SpaceX at Kwajalein, he gathered the boys round so they might hear about their dad’s earlier days. The interview went shockingly properly, and at the very least a part of the explanation must be that I knew the subject material deeply, had ready, and was enthusiastic about it. We spoke for almost two hours earlier than Musk requested if he might need a while together with his children. They spent the remainder of the flight enjoying video video games, yucking it up.
April 2025: Butch Wilmore
Once they’re on the file, astronauts principally stick with a script. As a reporter, you are simply not going to get an excessive amount of from them. (Off the file is a very totally different story, after all, as astronauts are usually pleasant, hilarious, and earnest folks.)
Final week, dozens of journalists have been allotted 10-minute interviews with Wilmore and, individually, Suni Williams. It was the primary time that they had spoken in depth with the media since their launch on Starliner and return to Earth aboard a Crew Dragon automobile. As I waited outdoors Studio A at Johnson House Heart, I overheard Wilmore finishing an interview with a Tennessee-based outlet, the place he’s from. As they wrapped up, the general public affairs officer stated he had only one extra interview left and stated my title. Wilmore stated one thing like, “Oh good, I’ve been ready to speak with him.”