Starliner Astronauts Stand Firm Against Political Maneuvering by Trump and Musk During Key ‘Rescue’ Mission

The Starliner mission is coming to a close, with the crew set to return later this month. However, the drama surrounding the mission continues. Recently, Donald Trump made inaccurate claims that the astronauts were abandoned by the previous administration. The two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, chose to focus on their mission instead of engaging in political disputes.

During a live broadcast from the International Space Station (ISS), Wilmore addressed Trump’s comments, saying, “That’s politics. But from my standpoint, politics has not played into this at all.” His words highlight the astronauts’ commitment to their work and mission.

Wilmore and Williams launched to the ISS aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner on June 5, 2024. Initially, they were to spend eight days there. But due to thruster issues, NASA had to send the Starliner back empty, deeming it unfit for crew transport. So instead, the astronauts will return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft later this month.

After taking office, Trump claimed he was coordinating a rescue mission for the astronauts, saying he had asked Elon Musk to help. He posted on Truth Social, asserting that they had been “abandoned” in space. In reality, NASA already had a plan to bring the astronauts home safely.

In September 2024, NASA launched its Crew-9 mission, intentionally leaving two seats open for Wilmore and Williams. However, technical issues delayed the next Crew-10 mission, which affected the timing of their return. Now, the astronauts will leave the ISS a bit earlier than planned, but the situation has been blown out of proportion by political figures.

Despite the noise from Trump and Musk, NASA switched their return plans for the astronauts to a SpaceX vehicle without it becoming a rescue mission. This change will shorten their time in space by about two weeks.

In a recent interview, Musk repeated the idea that the astronauts were left in space for political reasons, suggesting he had offered a quicker return plan. Wilmore clarified during the ISS press conference that he did not have details on any such offers, further downplaying the political angles being pushed.

When asked about their extended stay, the astronauts took it in stride. Wilmore noted that they prepare for unexpected situations, stating, “That’s what we do in human spaceflight.” Williams acknowledged the impact on people on Earth, mentioning that the uncertainty about their return date was tough for families and friends waiting for them.

The Starliner mission has been marked by challenges, and the ongoing controversy highlights how easily space exploration can be entangled with politics.