NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, turning what was supposed to be an eight-day mission into a stay of more than nine months.
In February 2025, Elon Musk claimed that the Biden administration had rejected SpaceX’s offer to bring the astronauts home, implying that politics played a role in the decision. During a recent in-orbit press conference, Wilmore addressed the controversy, stating, “I can only say that Mr. Musk, what he says, is absolutely factual… I believe him.” However, he also admitted that he was not fully informed about the discussions that took place regarding their rescue.
NASA has since arranged for Wilmore and Williams to return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, with their long-overdue mission expected to launch in mid-March. Despite the unexpected extension of their time in space, both astronauts have maintained a positive attitude while continuing their research and operational duties aboard the ISS.
Williams’ mother, Bonnie Pandya, shared that her daughter remains honored to serve on the mission, despite the delays and uncertainties. Meanwhile, the situation has fueled debate over whether political considerations influenced the decision to initially decline Musk’s offer, raising concerns about the intersection of politics and space exploration.
As the astronauts prepare to return home, the focus remains on ensuring their safe arrival and the lessons learned from this unprecedented situation.