NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore rejected claims by President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency Director Elon Musk that the Biden administration had “virtually abandoned” them in space.
Wilmore and Williams, who have been in space for around eight months, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in a Thursday interview that they have felt supported and prepared since their return home was delayed by issues with the aircraft.
“We don’t feel abandoned. We don’t feel stuck. We don’t feel stranded. I understand why others may think that,” Wilmore said from the International Space Station. “We come prepared. We come committed.”
Wilmore added, “That is what your human spaceflight program is. It prepares for any and all contingencies that we can conceive of, and we prepare for those.”
Wilmore called on Cooper to “help us change the narrative.”
“Let’s change it to ‘prepared and committed,’” he said. “That’s what we prefer.”
In a Jan. 28 tweet, Musk proclaimed that Trump had tasked him with expediting “stranded” Wilmore and Williams’ trip home by harnessing the resources of his Space X company.
“We will do so,” Musk wrote, adding, “Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”
In a Truth Social on the same day, Trump added, “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!!!”
NASA announced in December that Williams and Wilmore will finally begin their return home with Crew-10 on March 12.
