Sunita Williams’ return: NASA astronauts dodge political row, say ‘what Elon Musk says is absolutely factual, but…’ | Mint<img src='https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6035286&cv=4.4.0&cj=1'>SubscribeSign inView Market DashboardHomeLatest NewsMarketsMarket NewsMark to MarketCommoditiesLive BlogsCryptocurrencyIPOStock MarketsMarket DataStock PagesIndex pagesBullionGold SilverFuelPetrolDieselNewsIndiaWorldWSJEconomistNewsUS NewsPremium e-paperGlobal Partners WSJEconomistBarron'sMint SpecialsMint ExplainersMark to MarketLong StoryMint PrimerSnapviewSectionsCompaniesTechnologyMarketsMoneyMutual FundsInsuranceAutoIndustryPersonal FinanceCompaniesStart-upsCompany ResultsPeopleMoneyPersonal FinanceInsurance Ask Mint MoneyMutual FundsMyMintChampions Trophy 2025 LIVEPersonal LoanTechnologyGadgetsTech ReviewsApp News5G TechFoldable SmartphonesMint HindiMoreElection 2025OpinionAuto NewsSportsChampions Trophy 2025 ScheduleChampions Trophy 2025 Points TableMost Runs in Champions Trophy 2025 EducationTools IFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorMint LoungeMintGenie Multi-MediaVideosWebStories Photo GalleryPodcastsExplore MintAbout usPrint subscriptionMint AuthorsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDisclaimerMint codeCookie PolicyCode of ethicsSubscriber terms of useSitemapContact UsHindustan TimesLive HindustanHealthshotsCredit Card Hello UserSign inSign OutMy AccountSubscribeMy WatchlistNewslettersNotificationsMy ReadsFor YouView Less -View More +Data InsightsMarket DashboardBullionGoldSilverFuelPetrolDieselCommoditiesGoldGoldMAluminumMenthaoilSilverSilverMICGoldPetalNatural GasCopperZincSilverMCrudeOilGoldGinueaLeadCryptoCurrenciesView Less -View More +Top SectionsToday's NewsIndia NewsWorld NewsUS News TodayBudget 2025EconomyMoney NewsPersonal FinanceQ&AOpinionCompany Business NewsIPO NewsStart-upsCompany ResultsTop Company LeaderStock Market NewsStock MarketsCommodity NewsMark To MarketIPO NewsLive Blogpersonal loanpersonal loan emi calculatorPersonal Loan Interest RatePersonal Loan EligibilityBusiness LoanInstant LoanElection Results 2025Assembly Elections 2025Indian Industry AnalysisBanking NewsInfotech NewsInfrastructureAgricultureManufacturingEnergy NewsRetail NewsAuto NewsSports NewsOpinionViewsColumnsTechnology NewsGadgetsTech ReviewsApp NewsPolitics NewsLoungeBusiness of LifeSports NewsIPL 2025 IPL 2025 Points Table IPL 2025 Orange CapIPL 2025 Purple CapIPL Match Today | IPL 2025 ScheduleEducation News TodayView Less -View More +Premium Offeringse-paperWSJEconomistBarron'sMyMintMint PremiumView Less -View More +Tools and CalculatorsIFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorSIP CalculatorEMI CalculatorHome Loan EMI CalculatorCar Loan EMINPS CalculatorView Less -View More +MultiMedia CollectionsVideosWebStoriesPhoto GalleryPodcastsView Less -View More +More From MintMint GenieMint LoungeMint HindiView Less -Explore MintAbout UsPrint SubscriptionMint AuthorsTerms of UseDisclaimerMint CodeCode of ethicsCookie PolicyPrivacy PolicySubscriber - Terms of UseSITEMAPContact UsMint AppsView Less -View More +Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limited All Rights Reserved.Sunita Williams’ return: NASA astronauts dodge political row, say ‘what Elon Musk says is absolutely factual, but…’Sunita Williams news: Elon Musk said in a post on X that US President Donald Trump ‘asked to bring them back as soon as possible, and we are doing so.’ LivemintUpdated6 Mar 2025, 11:46 AM ISTNASA astronauts (from left) Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Suni Williams talk to journalists on the ground during their pre-departure news conference on March 4, 2025.(NASA)Elon Musk reiterated his claim on Thursday that his company SpaceX "could have sent up another Dragon and brought" back the astronauts "stuck in space" home 6 months ago. But, he said, "the Biden White House [not NASA] refused to allow it."Musk said in a post on X that US President Donald Trump “asked to bring them back as soon as possible, and we are doing so.”The SpaceX owner's comments came after NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore reacted to Elon Musk's claim about bringing “stranded astronauts” back to Earth early.“…what Mr. Musk says is absolutely factual,” Butch said, adding that he didn't have details of Musk's "offer".During a press conference on March 5, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague were asked: "Elon musk said he offered to bring [astronauts] back earlier and he was denied. Is that true?"Butch replied, "I can only say that Mr. Musk, what he says is absolutely factual. We have no information on that though whatsoever what was offered, what was not offered, who it was offered to...that information we simply don't have. I believe him. I don't know all those details."Politics over 'stranded' astronauts' returnButch Wilmore denied claims that politics influenced the “decision around the timing of their return from space” and said that "politics is not playing into this at all.”"We came up prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short. That's what we do in human space flight. That's what your nation's human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that," Butch Wilmore said on March 4.On Elon Musk's and Trump's comments that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were "left up" at International Space Station (ISS) for "political reasons," Butch said, "Obviously, we've heard some of these different things that have been said."“I can tell you at the outset, all of us have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk and obviously, respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump," Butch said.He added, "We appreciated them, we appreciate all of that that do for us...The words they've said, politics, I mean, that's part of life. We understand that. And there's an important reason why we have a political system and the political system that we do have, and we're behind it 100%.”"We know what we have lived up here, we know the ins and outs and the specifics that they might not be privy to and I am sure that they have some issues that they are dealing with the information that we are not privy to," Butch said.What did Trump and Musk claim?In January, Donald Trump said he asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to “go get” the two NASA astronauts, who have been “abandoned in space” on the International Space Station, as soon as possible."I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to “go get” the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!," Donald Trump posted on Truth Social.Elon Musk shared a screenshot of Donald Trump's post and reacted with a 🫡 (saluting face emoji). Later, he posted, "The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long."Two 'stranded' astronautsNASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have already ended up spending more than seven months in space even though their mission was supposed to last just eight days.Their delayed return sparked speculations that they were "stuck" or "stranded" in space. However, the two astronauts and NASA have clarified time and again that Butch and Sunita are not "stranded" or "stuck" but happy in space.Wilmore earlier told CNN in an interview, "We don’t feel abandoned. We don’t feel stuck. We don’t feel stranded. I understand why others may think that."It is expected that the two astronauts will return to Earth around March 19.Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.Business NewsScienceNewsSunita Williams’ return: NASA astronauts dodge political row, say ‘what Elon Musk says is absolutely factual, but…’MoreLessFirst Published:6 Mar 2025, 11:38 AM ISTGet Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!Enter Mobile NumberEmployment TypeSalariedSelf-Employed BusinessApply NowMost Active StocksMarket SnapshotTop GainersTop Losers52 Week HighTrending In Market Stock Market CrashUS-China trade warSmall-cap stock Stock market todayUpcoming IPOIPO News Today Live Recommended For YouMore RecommendationsGold Prices24K22KFuel PricePetrolDieselPopular in ScienceStory Url has been added to your clipboardDownload AppDownload the Mint app and read premium storiesTrending StoriesIndian stock market SA VS NZ LIVE Score Kedarnath MCX gold rate RBI Ramadan 2025 Paan masala banned ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Points Table ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Most Runs ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Most Wickets Livemint Hindi Bank Holidays in Gujarat Bank Holidays in Delhi Bank Holidays in September Income Tax Calculator 2025 Bank Holidays in Jammu And Kashmir Instant Personal Loan Check Credit Score Online Business Loan Personal Loan Interest Rate Personal Loan Eligibility Personal Loan EMI Calculator Gold Rate in Delhi Gold Rate in Bangalore Gold Rate in Chennai Gold Rate in Hyderabad Gold Rate in Mumbai Business Radio - FAB Play Assembly Election Results Credit Card Personal Loan Online Gold Rate India Bank Holidays India Stocks to Buy Today Recommended Stocks to Watch Popular StocksJSW INFRASTRUCTURE share priceR R KABEL share priceCONCORD BIOTECH share priceIDBI Bank share priceYes Bank share priceAdani Power share priceHUL share priceIndian Oil share priceVedanta share priceJio Financial Services share pricePaytm share pricePunjab National Bank share priceCanara Bank share priceAdani Green Energy share priceIndian Railway Finance Corporation share priceSuzlon Energy share priceIREDA share priceVodafone Idea share priceOrient Technologies share pricePremier Energies share priceBajaj Housing Finance Share PriceGaruda Construction And Engineer share priceHyundai Motor India share priceNifty 50 companiesADANI ENTERPRISES share priceADANI PORTS share priceAPOLLO HOSPITALS share priceASIAN PAINTS share priceAXIS BANK share priceBAJAJ AUTO share priceBAJAJ FINANCE share priceBAJAJ FINSERVE share priceBPCL share priceBHARTI AIRTEL share priceBRITANNIA share priceCIPLA share priceCOAL INDIA share priceDIVIS LABORATORIES share priceDR REDDYS LABORATORIES share priceEICHER MOTORS share priceGRASIM INDUSTRIES share priceHCL TECHNOLOGIES share priceHDFC BANK share priceHDFC LIFE share priceHERO MOTOCORP share priceHINDALCO INDUSTRIES share priceHINDUSTAN UNILEVER share priceICICI BANK share priceITC share priceINDUSIND BANK share priceINFOSYS share priceJSW STEEL share priceKOTAK BANK share priceLARSEN & TOURBO share priceMAHINDRA & MAHINDRA share priceMARUTI SUZUKI share priceNTPC share priceNESTLE INDIA share priceONGC share pricePOWER GRID share priceRELIANCE INDUSTRIES share priceSBI LIFE share priceSBI share priceSUN PHARMA share priceTCS share priceTATA MOTORS share priceTATA STEEL share priceTATA CONSUMER share priceTECH MAHINDRA share priceTITAN share priceUPL share priceULTRATECH CEMENT share priceWIPRO share priceLatest StoriesSectionPremiumOpinionNewsMarketPoliticsCompaniesMoneySportsMutual FundIndustryTechnologyToolsIFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorSIP CalculatorHome Loan EMI CalculatorCar Loan EMINPS CalculatorData PagesMarket DashboardIndicesTop GainerMutual FundsGold PriceSilver PriceFuel PriceAbout UsMint AuthorsContact usTerms of UseCode of EthicsPrivacy PolicyRSSCopyright © 2025 HT Digital Streams Limited. 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