Fact Check: "My President rescued 2 stranded astronauts in space. Your President left 2 astronauts stranded in space. Not the same."
What We Know
The claim revolves around the return of two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were aboard the International Space Station (ISS) longer than initially planned. They were originally scheduled to return to Earth in June 2024 but remained in orbit due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they flew to the ISS. This spacecraft experienced multiple malfunctions, leading NASA to decide to send it back to Earth empty while keeping the astronauts aboard the ISS until a SpaceX Dragon capsule could safely return them (NPR, FactCheck.org).
Former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have suggested that the Biden administration intentionally delayed the astronauts' return for political reasons, claiming that they were "abandoned" in space. Trump has stated that he asked Musk to expedite their return, implying that the Biden administration was responsible for their extended stay (NPR, FactCheck.org). However, NASA officials have refuted these claims, citing safety and budgetary concerns as the primary reasons for the delay, rather than political motivations (NPR, FactCheck.org).
Analysis
The assertion that "My President rescued 2 stranded astronauts in space" and "Your President left 2 astronauts stranded in space" is a simplification of a complex situation. While it is true that the astronauts were delayed in their return, they were not in immediate danger, and NASA had a plan in place for their eventual return. The astronauts were fully integrated into the ISS crew and continued to conduct experiments and work during their extended stay (NPR).
The sources supporting the claim of political motivations behind the astronauts' extended stay come from Trump and Musk, who have a vested interest in portraying the situation in a way that reflects positively on Trump and negatively on Biden. However, these claims lack corroboration from independent sources. NASA officials, including former astronauts, have consistently stated that the decision was based on technical and safety considerations, not political ones (NPR, FactCheck.org).
The reliability of the sources is mixed. While NPR and FactCheck.org provide detailed accounts backed by official statements, Trump's and Musk's claims are more anecdotal and politically charged. The involvement of NASA officials in the decision-making process lends credibility to the assertion that safety and technical issues were the primary drivers of the astronauts' extended stay (NPR, FactCheck.org).
Conclusion
The claim that one president "rescued" the astronauts while the other left them stranded is Partially True. While it is accurate that the astronauts were delayed in their return due to technical issues, the portrayal of their situation as a political abandonment is misleading. NASA's decisions were based on safety and logistical considerations rather than political motivations, and the astronauts were not in immediate danger during their extended stay in space.
Sources
- Two astronauts 'stranded' in space are coming back to Earth
- Donald Trump Jokes He'll Go To Space On Stranded ...
- The Facts Behind the Delayed Return of U.S. Astronauts
- NASA credits Trump for astronauts' rescue, calls for Jared ...
- The White House - X
- White House credits Trump for Starliner astronauts' return.
