The ongoing saga of the Boeing Starliner astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) continues to be plagued by misinformation, primarily propagated by former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. In a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, both individuals falsely claimed the astronauts were stranded and needing rescue, placing blame on President Joe Biden.
This narrative is demonstrably false. NASA announced a plan in August to return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth alongside the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. This mission, launched on September 28, was adjusted to accommodate the Starliner astronauts by reducing its original crew size.
The return date was initially scheduled for later this month, but delays with the subsequent Crew-10 mission pushed the return to early April. NASA, under direction from the current administration, has since rescheduled the return for March 19. This adjusted timeline represents an expedited return, not a “rescue” as portrayed by Trump and Musk.
Trump’s claims, as documented in a White House transcript of the Hannity interview, repeatedly assert that SpaceX had to be given special permission for the return mission, implying it was blocked under the previous administration. He even suggested President Biden intended to leave the astronauts in space. These assertions are unfounded.
Musk echoed these sentiments, claiming SpaceX is “accelerating” the astronauts’ return and that they were “left up there for political reasons.” His apparent confusion about the timeline, suggesting a four-week return, further muddies the waters.
NASA officials have consistently maintained that safety, not politics, dictates their decisions regarding the Starliner astronauts. Both Musk, as owner of SpaceX, a direct competitor to Boeing, and Trump, with his ongoing criticism of the Biden administration, have clear motivations to misrepresent the situation. Trump has even attempted to portray himself as a hero, claiming on social media that he directed Musk to retrieve the astronauts.
The Starliner mission has undeniably faced significant challenges. Following its June 5 launch, the first crewed flight of the Starliner, Williams and Wilmore were meant to spend only eight days on the ISS. However, thruster problems and helium leaks during the approach forced a return-to-Earth mission without the crew on September 7.
Since then, the astronauts have remained on the ISS, integrating into the existing crew’s duties. Williams even set a new spacewalking record during this extended stay. Beyond the public embarrassment, Boeing has faced financial consequences, with the Starliner project reportedly $2 billion over budget and future missions currently on hold.
It is worth noting that Musk’s companies benefit from substantial government contracts, further complicating the narrative he presents. This situation underscores the importance of relying on verifiable information from credible sources when assessing complex events, particularly those involving political and commercial interests.
