Stuck NASA Astronaut Butch Willmore On Whether Politics Delay Their Return As Claimed By Elon Musk

Washington: Days after billionaire Elon Musk accused the Biden administration of abandoning two NASA astronauts in space, Butch Willmore, who has been stuck at the International Space Station for more than nine months, on Tuesday said that politics did not play a part in their delayed return, adding that the crew was already prepared for unexpected contingencies.

When asked at a press conference whether their delayed return is an outcome of any political influence and were they willing to come earlier, Butch Willmore said, “From our standpoint, politics has not played into this at all. We came up prepared to stay here long even though we had earlier planned to stay short, but that’s what we do in the human space flight missions, which is to plan for unknown and unexpected contingencies, and we did that.”

Politics Has Not Played Any Role In Our Delayed Return, says NASA Astronaut

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were launched on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024. 

Adding to Butch Willmore’s remarks, Commander Nick Hague said that NASA astronauts were given enough training to extend the stay if the situation demanded.

“When I launched in late September, our plan was to return at the end of February. Given the amount of training required to get the crew ready and the complexities associated…targeting a March return is pretty much on target,” he said.

Also Read: Sunita Williams Left in Space Due To Political Reasons: Elon Musk

Elon Musk Accused Biden Administration For ‘Stranding’ Astronauts

US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had earlier claimed that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were left stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) by the previous Joe Biden administration.
President Trump asserted that SpaceX was not given a ‘go-ahead’ to bring back the astronauts due to Joe Biden’s desire of not having publicity over the matter.

“Joe Biden was going to leave stranded NASA astronauts, including Sunita Williams, in space,” President Trump told US TV network Fox News in an interview sitting alongside Elon Musk.

Elaborating over Trump’s remark, Elon Musk said, “They are left there for political reasons, which is not good.”

The Boeing Starliner, which took Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS), has returned to Earth without the crew.