Elon Musk’s Truth Bomb: Butch Wilmore Confirms Dragon’s Delayed Return Is ‘Absolutely Factual’

Over the past nine months, reports from Ars indicate that the decision to have Wilmore and Williams return this spring was mainly based on technical needs and NASA’s requirements for the International Space Station, not political motives.

Q. How does it feel to wake up in the midst of a political storm?

Wilmore: First off, we have great respect for Mr. Musk and President Trump. We appreciate what they do for us and for space exploration in general. Politics is part of life, and we understand the importance of the political system we have. We’ve experienced life on the space station firsthand, knowing that there are things we’re aware of that they might not be. So, while politics is part of the landscape, we are fully behind it.

Q. Did politics affect NASA’s choice for you to spend more time in space?

Wilmore: From my perspective, politics didn’t influence this decision at all. We arrived ready for a longer stay, even if our original plan was shorter. In human spaceflight, we prepare for the unexpected. That’s why moving smoothly into Crew 9 and Expedition 72 felt like a natural transition; we were ready for it.