NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space for Nine Months Blame Political Decisions

NASA astronauts Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams, stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024 due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner, are set to return to Earth later this month. Elon Musk has claimed that he offered to rescue the astronauts last year, but the Biden administration rejected the proposal for political reasons, a claim that Wilmore acknowledged as 'absolutely factual' while expressing respect for both Musk and Donald Trump. The astronauts' extended stay, initially planned for eight days, has been challenging, particularly due to their separation from family. As they prepare for their return, they will undergo a rehabilitation period to regain strength after months in microgravity. Musk and Trump have criticized the Biden administration for their handling of the situation, asserting that political motivations influenced the delayed rescue. Meanwhile, NASA is collaborating with SpaceX for the astronauts' upcoming return, with a target date set for March 19 or 20.