In a recent interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, Elon Musk and former President Trump discussed the topic of astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Musk and Trump echoed a narrative that astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore had been abandoned in space, but this portrayal doesn’t hold up against the facts.
Williams and Wilmore launched to the ISS on June 4 of last year as part of Boeing’s Starliner mission. Originally, their stay was meant to last around ten days. However, technical issues with the Starliner’s thrusters extended their time in orbit. This delay was well-planned; NASA and the astronauts were prepared for such contingencies.
During their approach to the ISS, the astronauts noticed thruster problems. While they successfully docked, NASA and Boeing opted to investigate the issue thoroughly. The investigation took a few weeks, during which NASA reassured the crew that they were never in danger and had plans to bring them home. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager, Steve Stich, stated clearly, “Butch and Suni are not stranded in space.” He emphasized that the astronauts always had a way to return.
On August 24, NASA announced plans for Starliner to return uncrewed to Earth. Williams and Wilmore would instead return with a later SpaceX mission, Crew-9. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson confirmed that this decision was carefully made after discussions with NASA and Boeing teams.
The arrival of Crew-9 marked the end of Crew-8’s mission on September 23. As is standard, this overlap allowed incoming astronauts to prepare for life aboard the ISS. Crew-10 was scheduled for a launch in March, ensuring both Williams and Wilmore would eventually return home safely.
After President Trump took office, he continued to push the “stranded” narrative, claiming that astronauts were virtually abandoned by the Biden Administration. This narrative fit into an ongoing political commentary, which received some media attention. However, NASA maintained that the astronauts were not in distress and would be returned as planned.
Despite these claims, the astronauts have repeatedly said they feel part of a team, not stranded. Wilmore expressed to CNN’s Anderson Cooper that they never felt abandoned. Similarly, Williams stated in an interview that they were honored to be part of the ISS mission and didn’t feel left out. Their work onboard has continued without hindrance.
During his comments, Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in NASA’s operations, explaining that decisions regarding crew missions are based on extensive analysis and not on political influences. The agency has a comprehensive system for ensuring the safety and success of its missions, showcasing their commitment to the well-being of their astronauts.
Nobody has ever asserted that political factors influenced the astronauts’ extended stay in space. Instead, both Williams and Wilmore have expressed gratitude for being part of such an important mission, underscoring a culture of preparedness and teamwork in human spaceflight.
