What were the technical issues that led to the extended stay of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on the ISS?

The technical issues were related to the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which experienced failures during its test flight. As a result, the Starliner returned to Earth empty, and the astronauts were scheduled to return on a later SpaceX flight.

How did Elon Musk respond to Andreas Mogensen's criticism of his claims about the astronauts' situation?

Elon Musk responded by using a slur against Mogensen and reiterated his claim that the Biden administration rejected SpaceX's offer to bring the astronauts home earlier.

What is the current status of the astronauts' return mission?

The astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are scheduled to return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle in late March, as part of the Crew-9 mission.

How did the astronauts themselves respond to claims of being 'abandoned' or 'stranded'?

The astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, stated that they do not feel abandoned, stuck, or stranded, emphasizing that their return was planned and coordinated with NASA.

5 sources·Science

Elon Musk Sparks Controversy Over NASA Astronauts' Status

Elon Musk's claims about political motivations behind NASA astronauts' extended stay in space prompt backlash from fellow astronaut Andreas Mogensen.

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Things quickly turned ugly, with Musk calling Mogensen an "idiot" and using a derogatory term.
Astronauts vs. Musk: Public spat ensues over claims that politics delayed a flight to Earth
CNBC·1M
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The figures Trump gave in the Hannity interview are above the cost base and reported savings his officials said his negotiations achieved.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk's Fox News interview fact checked
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Musk, who averages around 100 posts to his social media platform per day, quickly pivoted to a proposal to end trips to the ISS.
Musk calls Mogensen the r-word after falsely claiming Biden abandoned ISS astronauts
Salon·1M
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Musk told Fox News host Sean Hannity the two astronauts were “left up there for political reasons.”
Elon Musk Calls Astronaut ‘Fully Retarded’ For Disputing His Bogus Claims US Abandoned People in Space
MEDIAite·1M
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Musk’s posturing has also raised concerns about his own conflicts of interest, especially considering his apparent control over government spending.
Musk Blows Up at Astronaut for Calling Out His Space Station Lie
Rolling Stone·1M
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Feb 20th, 2025, 9:21 PM ET

Summary

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Elon Musk faced criticism for claiming NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were abandoned at the ISS for political reasons. Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen countered Musk's assertions on social media, leading to a heated exchange. NASA clarified that technical issues with the Boeing Starliner caused the delay. Both astronauts dismissed claims of feeling abandoned, emphasizing safety over political narratives.

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