Elon Musk’s Statements on Stranded NASA Astronauts
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk recently made headlines by discussing the situation of two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who are currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Musk claimed that the previous administration under President Biden had left the astronauts stranded, and he assured that SpaceX would bring them back to Earth within about four weeks.
Musk’s Accusations
In a televised interview with former President Donald Trump and Sean Hannity, Musk expressed his frustration over the astronauts’ extended stay in space. He suggested that the previous administration’s decision-making may have been influenced by political motives. Musk stated that they were working to expedite the return of Wilmore and Williams, supposedly at Trump’s urging.
SpaceX’s Past Efforts
Musk took the opportunity to highlight SpaceX’s successful track record in returning astronauts from the ISS. He claimed that his company has frequently brought people back home after missions. In September 2023, SpaceX attempted to send a Crew Dragon capsule to the ISS to fetch the astronauts. The spacecraft successfully arrived at the space station but lacked the necessary authorization to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth.
Circumstances of the Astronauts’ Stay
Wilmore and Williams have spent 258 days at the ISS, which was initially planned to last around eight days. They found themselves in this situation due to a technical glitch with their Boeing Starliner capsule, which delayed their return.
Astronauts’ Response to Musk and Trump
In a separate interview, astronauts Wilmore and Williams addressed Musk’s and Trump’s claims. When asked if they felt abandoned or stranded in space, Wilmore firmly stated that they did not share those sentiments. He emphasized that they were well-prepared for their mission and were committed to completing their work on the ISS.
NASA’s Update on Return Plans
Recently, NASA announced that it might be able to expedite the return of Wilmore and Williams. This change is due to modifications being made to the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule intended for the upcoming Crew-10 mission. NASA has rescheduled the launch date for this mission to March 12, pending readiness.
Wilmore provided an update during the CNN interview, noting that if everything proceeds smoothly, both he and Williams could return to Earth alongside the Crew-9 team as soon as March 19, 2024.
Summary
- Elon Musk accused the previous Biden administration of leaving NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams stranded on the ISS.
- He claimed SpaceX is working to bring them back to Earth in about four weeks.
- The astronauts responded that they do not feel abandoned and are prepared for their mission.
- NASA may expedite their return due to changes in capsule design and has set a potential launch date for March 12.
- Wilmore stated that he and Williams could be back on Earth around March 19.
As the situation develops, both Musk’s perspective and the astronauts’ experiences will continue to capture public attention.
