• Source:JND
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During an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, tech billionaire Elon Musk made a startling claim that the Biden administration intentionally delayed the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) for political reasons. Musk alleged that his offer to bring the astronauts home early was rejected because the administration did not want to benefit SpaceX or make "anyone supporting Trump look good".

According to Musk, the return date was deliberately pushed past the presidential inauguration to avoid any positive media coverage for his company, which has been at odds with the Biden administration. "There's no way that they're gonna make anyone who's supporting Trump look good," Musk stated, suggesting the delay was linked to former vice president Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

Joe Rogan's Reaction

Rogan, taken aback by Musk’s statements, called the alleged decision "disgusting" and criticised the idea of using astronauts' safety as a political tool. "That's so crazy... It's just disgusting that they would use that as a political tool," Rogan said.

Musk also pointed out that the Biden administration had an ongoing lawsuit against SpaceX at the time, accusing the company of discriminatory hiring practices for not employing asylum seekers. Musk defended SpaceX, arguing that US law prohibits companies from hiring non-permanent residents for positions related to national security.

NASA and Astronauts Deny Political Involvement

In response to Musk’s claims, NASA officials have denied any political motives behind the delayed return. NASA stated that the delay was due to logistical concerns, including ensuring the readiness of the Dragon capsule and proper crew handover procedures on the ISS.

NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore, when asked about Musk’s allegations during an interview on Good Morning America, responded: "Political reasons—I have not heard that. I'm not sure that that could be the case based on what I know." His remarks contradict Musk’s assertion, reinforcing NASA’s official explanation that the delay was part of standard mission operations.

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Technical and Safety Considerations

NASA maintains that Williams and Wilmore were never "stranded" in space. The astronauts are well-equipped for extended stays aboard the ISS, and their return was managed according to safety protocols and operational needs. The agency emphasised that prioritising crew safety and mission requirements dictated the timeline, not political calculations.

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