Musk and Mogensen Clash Over Astronauts’ Extended Space Stay

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A public dispute erupted between Elon Musk and European astronaut Andreas Mogensen over comments Musk made regarding the extended stay of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The conflict began following a Tuesday interview on Fox News, where Musk, alongside former President Donald Trump, insinuated the two astronauts were deliberately left in space due to political decisions made by the Biden administration. Williams and Wilmore have been stationed on the ISS for over eight months after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft faced technical issues during a crewed test flight.

“They were left up there for political reasons,” Musk declared, suggesting the astronauts’ prolonged presence in space was part of a broader political motive. Mogensen, the first Danish citizen to fly in space, found Musk’s assertion unsupported and called it a “lie.” He remarked, “What a lie. And from someone who complains about lack of honesty from the mainstream media.”

In a heated back-and-forth, Musk responded with a derogatory term and asserted that SpaceX had offered to retrieve the astronauts months ago but was declined by the Biden administration. “SpaceX could have brought them back several months ago,” Musk declared. “Return WAS pushed back for political reasons. Idiot.”

Mogensen later pointed out that the plan for Wilmore and Williams to return home with the Crew-9 mission had been established since the previous September. “Even now, you are not sending up a rescue ship to bring them home,” he countered. “They are returning on the Dragon capsule that has been on the ISS since last September.”

Throughout the discussion, both astronauts have maintained their commitment to their mission onboard the ISS. Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield added his voice to the discourse, reaffirming that Williams and Wilmore had never been stranded. “Suni and Butch have never been ‘stranded’ in space,” Hadfield wrote on social media. “They’re prepared and committed to the mission.”

Williams and Wilmore were initially launched to the ISS in June as part of a test flight which was expected to last about a week. However, complications arose, leading to this extended stay as NASA worked on arrangements to send a new SpaceX spacecraft to ferry a fresh crew to the station.

As planned, Crew-10 is set to carry four astronauts, including NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, to the ISS. Once they arrive, Williams and Wilmore, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will utilize another Dragon capsule to return home. This overlap period is essential for ensuring a smooth transition as astronauts exchange vital information regarding ongoing projects.

The political undertones of this incident resurfaced questions regarding Musk’s influence as a political advisor, particularly with his connection to Trump. Musk’s remarks have drawn scrutiny, especially as political narratives surrounding NASA’s operations continue to evolve. Williams and Wilmore are expected to depart the ISS and return to Earth around March 2025.