Elon Musk Drops BØMBSHELL about Astronaut Rescue, Calls ISS Commander a Liar and R*tard… | HO

The social media platform X erupted into chaos on Thursday, February 20th, as Elon Musk waded into a heated debate surrounding the rescue of two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS). In an explosive series of posts, Musk accused the Biden administration of delaying the return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams for political reasons.

The controversy quickly escalated when the commander of the ISS, Andreas Mogensen, responded, prompting Musk to lash out and call him a liar. The online firestorm has since ignited a fierce debate in the space community, exposing political tensions and potential mismanagement of the ISS mission.

Musk’s Shocking Allegation: Were Astronauts “Abandoned” in Space?The controversy began when Elon Musk appeared in an exclusive Fox News interview alongside former President Donald Trump and host Sean Hannity. During the discussion, Musk made an alarming claim: NASA’s return of Wilmore and Williams had been delayed unnecessarily, and SpaceX had offered to bring them back months earlier. According to Musk, this offer was rejected by the Biden administration.

“You’re committed to getting to Mars, you’re committed to rescue, you’re going to help rescue next month two astronauts that I think were abandoned,” Hannity said, referencing the situation aboard the ISS.

Musk confirmed the statement, responding:

“They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good. It’s not good at all.”

This statement sent shockwaves through the space community. Many questioned the validity of Musk’s claim that astronauts were being used as political pawns. Shortly after the interview aired, ISS commander Andreas Mogensen responded, calling Musk’s assertion a complete fabrication.

NASA and ISS Officials Fire BackMogensen, a respected astronaut and commander of the ISS, wasted no time addressing Musk’s allegations.

He took to X, refuting the claim and calling it a lie:

“What a lie. And from someone who complains about the lack of honesty from the mainstream media?” Mogensen posted.

Rather than de-escalating the situation, Musk responded with an even more aggressive stance:

“You are fully [expletive]. SpaceX could have brought them back several months ago. I offered this directly to the Biden Administration and they refused. Return was pushed back for political reasons. Idiot.”

This comment stunned many, as Musk not only doubled down on his accusations but also openly insulted Mogensen, leading to widespread backlash.

The Space Community ReactsMusk’s attack on Mogensen did not go unnoticed. Prominent figures in the space community, including YouTubers, industry analysts, and space journalists, were quick to criticize Musk’s response. Joe Barnard, a well-known space content creator, pointed out Musk’s previous advocacy for positive and inspiring content, highlighting the hypocrisy in his hostile remarks.

Others, such as space journalist Ken Kirtland IV, called Musk’s statements an outright lie:

“The LIE is that NASA and even Biden didn’t want SpaceX to bring the astronauts home just because he ‘know likey Elon.’ NASA made the logical decision to wait for the next Dragon return, which was already scheduled.”

Kirtland further explained the financial and logistical realities, questioning why NASA would spend $200 million on an additional rescue mission when the astronauts were already scheduled to return safely.

However, some of Musk’s supporters rallied behind him, arguing that his frustrations were justified. A user by the name of Nautilus Guars defended Musk, stating:

“Elon offered to bring Butch and Sunny back very shortly after this whole debacle. The Biden Administration, which openly hated Elon, refused to cooperate. This is the definition of ‘for political reasons.’”

The Bigger Picture: Political Games in Space Exploration?As the controversy raged on, space policy experts weighed in on whether there was any merit to Musk’s claim. Dr. Phil Metzger, a planetary scientist and frequent guest on space-related discussions, provided a more balanced take:

“If you ask NASA, they’ll say they declined Elon’s offer to bring back the crew earlier because of the $250 million cost of an additional Dragon crewed flight. It was outside their budget and required new funds from Congress.”

Metzger noted that NASA’s funding is inherently political. Approval for additional spending must go through Congress, where decisions are influenced by various stakeholders. Boeing, which developed the Starliner spacecraft, is a major government contractor. NASA’s preference to stick with existing ISS plans may have been influenced by the need to maintain political goodwill with Boeing and its supporters in Congress.

Musk, however, dismissed the budgetary explanation entirely. In a response to Metzger, he claimed:

“PR was never even discussed. They flatly refused. We would have made it work within the annual budget. The real issue is that they did not want positive press for someone who supported Trump. That’s it. End of story.”

Musk Suggests Deorbiting the ISSIf Musk’s comments about the astronaut rescue weren’t controversial enough, he later dropped another bombshell: he suggested that it was time to deorbit the International Space Station entirely.

“It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the space station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let’s go to Mars,” Musk posted.

This statement immediately sparked concern within the space community. Eric Berger, senior editor at Ars Technica, questioned whether Musk was advocating for deorbiting the ISS before the planned 2030 retirement date.

Musk’s response was clear:

“The decision is up to the president, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend two years from now.”

This radical proposal contradicts NASA’s current plans to maintain a human presence in low-Earth orbit until at least 2030. It also raises concerns about the lack of a replacement space station. Many fear that prematurely deorbiting the ISS would leave a gap in human spaceflight capabilities that private companies may not be able to fill in time.

What’s Next? The Fallout from Musk’s StatementsMusk’s outburst has left the space community divided. His critics argue that his personal grievances and political biases are clouding his judgment, while his supporters maintain that he is exposing government inefficiencies and bureaucratic red tape.

In the coming days, NASA and the Biden administration will likely be forced to respond more formally to Musk’s claims. If Musk can provide evidence that NASA deliberately delayed the astronauts’ return for political reasons, it could be a major scandal. However, if his claims are unfounded, it could further damage his credibility in the space industry.

Regardless of where the truth lies, one thing is clear: Elon Musk’s statements have reignited the debate about political interference in space exploration. Whether this controversy will lead to meaningful change or simply fade into another social media firestorm remains to be seen.