SpaceX CEO Elon Musk makes shocking allegations about politically motivated delays in returning American astronauts from space during a podcast appearance.
According to the Daily Mail, Musk claimed during Joe Rogan's podcast that the Biden administration rejected SpaceX's offer to bring NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore home early because it would have benefited Donald Trump's supporters.
The controversial tech billionaire alleged that the administration deliberately extended the astronauts' stay on the International Space Station past the inauguration date to avoid making Trump supporters look good. He pointed to the Department of Justice's lawsuit against SpaceX over hiring practices as evidence of the administration's antagonistic stance toward his company.
During the Friday podcast episode, Musk elaborated on his theory about the extended space mission. He emphasized that SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft was the only vehicle capable of safely returning the astronauts to Earth.
The astronauts were originally scheduled for an eight-day mission when they arrived at the ISS on June 6. However, technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft led NASA to significantly delay their return flight due to safety concerns.
Rogan expressed shock at Musk's allegations during the interview. According to Musk, the administration's decision was influenced by his public support for Trump during the 2024 campaign, where he appeared at several MAGA rallies.
Then-NASA administrator Bill Nelson previously addressed similar claims about political interference. Nelson stated that politics played absolutely no role in mission decisions regarding the astronauts' return.
When asked about Musk's comments in a Good Morning America interview, astronaut Barry Wilmore dismissed the political explanation. He indicated he had not heard about political motivations being a factor in their extended stay.
The crew members also pushed back against characterizations of being "stranded" in space. They emphasized this was not how they viewed their situation aboard the ISS.
The Starliner crew is now scheduled to return to Earth around March 19 or 20. They will be transported on the SpaceX Crew-9 return flight after spending more than nine months in space.
SpaceX remains the only company with spacecraft currently rated as safe enough for crew transport from the ISS. This technical reality underlies some of the controversy around mission timing and decision-making.
Musk highlighted ongoing tensions with the Biden administration, referencing a DOJ lawsuit over SpaceX's hiring practices. The lawsuit was dismissed two weeks ago, though the reasons were not specified in the motion.
A complex situation involving space operations, political rivalries, and aerospace capabilities continues to develop. Elon Musk's explosive claims about politically motivated delays in returning NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore from the International Space Station have sparked heated debate. While NASA officials and crew members dispute any political interference, the extended mission highlights both technical challenges and tensions between SpaceX and the current administration. The astronauts' return is now planned via SpaceX Crew-9 spacecraft in late March 2025.
