NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams safely returned to Earth on Tuesday, March 18, after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their SpaceX capsule made a smooth descent, parachuting into the Gulf of America during the evening hours.
While the successful return marked a celebratory moment for NASA, it was clouded by political speculation. Former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have publicly claimed that the Biden administration deliberately delayed the astronauts’ return for political reasons. According to their allegations, Biden refused assistance from SpaceX to bring the crew home, supposedly to avoid giving the company credit.
Trump asserted that his administration initiated efforts to bring the astronauts back, while Musk alleged SpaceX offered to help but was turned down by the Biden White House. These claims gained traction on social media, with some users echoing the idea that the astronauts were “stranded” due to partisan motives.
“I still can’t believe that two Americans were stuck in space for months, and the previous administration refused to bring them back when given the opportunity. Welcome home!” wrote one user on X. Another commented, “Elon Musk details how the Biden administration left the astronauts stranded in space because he didn’t want SpaceX to get the credit.”
However, fact-checking site Snopes has debunked these rumors, reporting that discussions about the astronauts’ return began as early as August 2024. Contrary to the narrative circulating online, the SpaceX capsule used for the mission had already been docked at the ISS by September and was scheduled to return in early 2025.
There is no public evidence that SpaceX offered to carry out an earlier rescue or that the Biden administration refused such help. Additionally, NASA has maintained that its operations remain nonpartisan.
When asked directly during a March 14 press conference whether there was truth to the accusations, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space Operations, Kenneth Bowersox, said, “I can’t give you a lot of clarity there.” He continued, “All I can tell you is NASA is an incredible nonpartisan agency. We get support from whoever is in office.
Our presidents always care a lot about what happens at NASA, and it’s great to see that trend continue with our current president.” Despite the political noise, NASA documents confirm that planning for the astronauts’ return was ongoing for months—well before recent conspiracy theories emerged.
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