In a recent joint interview, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk accused the previous Biden administration of intentionally leaving NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for political reasons. Musk stated, "They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good," while Trump added, “He [Biden] was going to leave them in space. I think he didn’t want the publicity.”

Background of the Mission

Original Plan: Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024 for an eight-day mission.

Technical Issues: Post-launch, the Starliner capsule experienced technical problems, leading NASA and Boeing to deem it unsafe for the astronauts' return.

Extended Stay: Due to these issues, the astronauts have remained on the ISS for over nine months, far exceeding their initial mission duration.

NASA's Response

Despite the claims, both astronauts have refuted the notion of being abandoned. Wilmore stated, "We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded," acknowledging the extended stay but emphasizing their well-being.

Current Status

NASA has arranged for their return using SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, with the mission scheduled for March 2025. This plan was established prior to the recent allegations, aiming to ensure the astronauts' safe return after resolving the technical challenges with Boeing's Starliner.