NASA's former deputy administrator has informed Bloomberg that SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, never submitted a proposal to NASA's top officials for the early return of two American astronauts stranded in space.
New Delhi: The conflict between NASA and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has intensified. Musk claims NASA kept astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for months due to ethical and political reasons. However, former NASA officials have vehemently denied his claims.
Musk's Claim, NASA's Denial
Elon Musk recently stated on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), that SpaceX had a plan to return the two astronauts "ahead of schedule," but the US government prevented it. He believes the Biden administration intentionally obstructed the rescue mission due to his support for former President Donald Trump.
However, former NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy completely refuted these claims, stating NASA received no such proposal from Musk. Melroy added, "If Musk discussed this with anyone, it wasn't with senior NASA officials."
ISS Delays Due to Technical Issues
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore launched to the ISS in June aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule. This mission, initially planned for eight days, aimed to test the spacecraft's safety for crewed missions. However, technical issues caused continuous delays in their return after docking at the ISS.
In August, NASA announced that the Starliner would first return to Earth without the crew, followed by a safe return of the astronauts under SpaceX's Crew-9 mission. The astronauts are now expected to return to Earth by next month.
Sunita's Mother States She's Fine
Sunita Williams' mother, Bonnie Pandya, also reacted to the controversy. She stated her daughter was always excited about going to space and is accustomed to longer missions. She denied Musk's claims, saying her daughter is not "stranded." Bonnie Pandya said, "I'm not worried because I know Sunita is completely safe. Astronauts are mentally prepared for these kinds of delays." She added that Sunita is proud to be part of this mission.
NASA vs. Musk: A Growing Conflict
This dispute highlights a growing conflict between NASA and Musk. While SpaceX has played a crucial role in NASA's space missions in recent years, tension exists between the two entities, particularly surrounding Boeing's Starliner program. While NASA officials deny Musk's claims, Musk accuses the administration of political bias. This event underscores the increasing competition between government and private entities in space exploration.
The future trajectory of the NASA-SpaceX relationship and the timing of Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore's safe return remain to be seen.
