NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore has said he believes Elon Musk’s claim that the Biden administration refused SpaceX’s offer to bring him and fellow astronaut Sunita Williams back to Earth.
Did Politics Play a Role in the Delay?
Wilmore and Sunita Williams have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) longer than expected. Initially, Wilmore denied that politics had anything to do with the delay. However, during a press conference from space, his response changed when asked about Musk’s statement.
“I can only say that Mr. Musk, what he says, is absolutely factual… I believe him,” Wilmore said.
No Insider Knowledge of What Happened
Despite trusting Musk, Wilmore admitted he and Williams are unaware of the details behind the scenes.
“We have no information on that, though, whatsoever,” he said. “What was offered, what was not offered, who it was offered to, how that process went. That’s information that we simply don’t have.”
Wilmore Shows Support for Trump and Musk
During the press conference, Wilmore also shared his admiration for both Musk and former President Donald Trump.
“All of us have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk, and obviously, respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump. We appreciate them. We appreciate all that they do for us, for human spaceflight, for our nation,” he said.
Should the ISS Be Shut Down? Astronauts Disagree with Musk
Recently, Musk suggested on X that the ISS should be taken out of orbit “as soon as possible” so that resources could focus on reaching Mars. Wilmore and Williams do not share this view.
Williams described the ISS as a vital center for scientific research.
“I was extremely impressed coming up here and seeing how much science is going on,” she said. “This place is ticking. It’s just really amazing. So I would say we’re actually in our prime right now. … I would think that right now is probably not the right time to say, quit, to call it quits.”
The Unanswered Questions
Wilmore’s statement adds more mystery to the situation. Did the Biden administration really block SpaceX’s rescue attempt? If so, why? For now, the astronauts remain stranded, waiting for a solution.
