The strangest Space Odyssey is finally over.Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are back. Their planned eight-day mission to the International Space Station became a nine-month stay in an orbital lab.
The story includes accusations of technical glitches and political wrongdoing.
The Williams and Wilmore Space Odyssey began on June 5th, 2023When they lifted out of Kennedy Space Center on the Boeing CST-100 StarlinerAtlas V. Starliner of Atlas Alliance was supposed to be the second crew spaceship alongside the SpaceX Crew Dragon to bring people to and from the International Space Station.
Starliner experienced itHelium leakage and thruster problemsIt was used to make two astronauts an issue. The ISS NASA and crew spent several weeks examining the spacecraft to figure out what was causing the problem. Finally, the space agency decided to bring Starliner back to Earth without Williams and Wilmore
Starliner has landed in New MexicoNo incidents on September 7th.
NASA has determined that the crew nine expedition to the ISS will consist of not a regular four-person crew member, but American astronaut Nick Hauzh and Russian astronaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Williams and Wilmore were effectively part of the crew rotation and returned to Earth when Hauge and Gorbunov went.
Crew Dragon was released on September 28thI arrived at the ISS the next day. For almost six months, Williams and Wilmore rode the International Space Station to carry out experimental and maintenance tasks.
In the meantime, turbulent political events had been happening on Earth. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. President Trump then defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to become the second term of president.
There was a rather strange controversy there. Has the Biden administration intentionally abandoned Williams and Wilmore?Do you give them the opportunity to take them home early?
Brouhaha started in January with Elon Musk Presented at x Trump gave him instructions to “save” the two astronauts.
” @potus I asked @spacex To bring home two astronauts @space_station as soon as possible. I'll do that. It's awful that the Biden administration has left them there for so long. ”
Later, Trump said, “I just asked Elon Musk. @spacex “Acquiring” two brave astronauts who have been effectively abandoned in space by the Biden administration. They waited at the space station for months. Elon is in his way soon. Hopefully everything will be safe. Good luck, Elon!!!”
Written by Ars Technica, Eric Berger pointed outAstronaut rides were always available to return home, a crew docked to the ISS. He could not find any evidence that the decision to assign Williams and Wilmore to a few months' stay on the ISS surpassed then administrator Bill Nelson.
Musk was further mixed in the pan.When he proposed in an episode of Honity that two astronauts were left on the ISS for “political reasons.” European astronaut Andreas Morgensen suggested it was a “lie.” Musk provided an unthinkable middle school retort called “delayed” Morgensen.
At a press conference from ISS Wilmore, denying that politics has entered their long stay to further confuse the issue,It also suggested that the musk is accurateWhen he offered to go home early with SpaceX crew Dragon and said he was turned down by the Biden administration.
In a recent podcast with Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas)Musk repeated the story.heI repeated my claim againIn an interview about Honity after the astronauts return. The offer was made and what “political reasons” Biden declined was unclear. Musk suggests that it is his status as a Trump supporter. This issue certainly deserves investigation.
Some media have mentioned the launch of Crew 10, including Williams and Wilmore, and the subsequent return of Crew 9. “Rescue mission.” “Stucked Astronaut” Meme
It has become established that they will be rescued by musks.
The mask was posted immediately x's video We would like to thank him and Trump for coming home of the two astronauts.
Suni Williams and Butch Willmore are finally home. They are reunited in an environment with gravity, up and down, blue sky and green grass. An interesting chapter in their lives is coming to an end.
Mark R. Whittington is the author:Why is it so difficult to get back to the moon?” Similarly”Moon, Mars, etc.and recently,Why is America returning to the moon?“He blogsCurmudgeons corner.
