Written by Luke Grayson.
Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams have been orbiting Earth for nine months, marooned on the International Space Station since June, and they’re fed up. In a Tuesday presser, Wilmore didn’t hold back, tossing a match on Elon Musk’s claim that President Joe Biden kiboshed an early SpaceX pickup—why? To keep Donald Trump from looking good. Nine months is a stretch for anyone, and these two, calm as ever up there, finally let some steam out over what smells like political nonsense from down here.
A Stalled Ride Home
Wilmore laid it out plain. “What Mr. Musk says, it’s factual,” he said, backing Musk’s bombshell that Biden shoved their return past Trump’s January 20 start date. SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, now pegged for March 19 or 20, is their ticket back—Musk’s gig—but Wilmore shrugged off the details: “We weren’t in on those talks.” Musk, on Joe Rogan’s show last Friday, said Biden’s crew stalled to dodge a Trump win, especially with Musk’s $288 million dumped into Trump’s 2024 run. Politics over people? That’s the vibe.
It started simple. June 6, they blasted off on Boeing’s Starliner for an eight-day hop. Then the thing broke—thrusters fritzed, helium leaked—and NASA said no dice on riding it back. September saw Starliner limp home empty, leaving Wilmore and Williams hanging. Bill Nelson, NASA’s old boss, swore it wasn’t political: “Nothing to do with it.” But Musk’s rant, Trump’s “Biden abandoned them” jab, and Wilmore’s nod say otherwise. The wait’s dragged, and they’re still up there.
Musk’s not shy—he told Rogan the Biden team feared a SpaceX save would tank Kamala Harris’ shot, tossing in a DOJ lawsuit against his company for not hiring asylum seekers as extra shade. Legal or not, it’s noise. Point is, Wilmore and Williams, stuck in a tin can, seem to buy that Biden’s squad left them twisting to snub Trump. Nine months in orbit’s no joke, and they’re over it.
Voices From the Void
They’ve heard the buzz. “We’ve caught wind of this stuff,” Wilmore said, cool as you’d expect from a guy floating 250 miles up. He didn’t spill all—“We don’t have the full scoop”—but you could hear the edge. “We know what we’ve been through,” he added, a polite dig at whoever’s holding the reins. He tipped his cap to Trump and Musk: “Respect and admiration for them, for what they do for spaceflight, our country.” Gratitude, sure, but it’s clear they’re itching to ditch the ISS.
Williams kept mum, letting Wilmore carry it. He called politics “part of life”—a pro’s shrug—but the undertone’s sharp: if Biden’s team stretched this out to dodge a Trump headline, it’s a raw deal. Crew-9’s date slid later after Trump’s “get them now” nudge, and they’re still waiting. For two vets who’ve logged serious space hours, it’s a slow burn they didn’t sign up for.
Space Caught in Earth’s Games
This mess isn’t just their headache—it’s a lens on how D.C. can gum up the cosmos. Boeing’s Starliner, a $4.2 billion bust, flunked its test run, leaving NASA leaning on SpaceX, which has hauled crews to the ISS over 10 times since 2020. Musk’s outfit is the clutch player, but if Biden’s delay is real, it’s a case of votes trumping mission. Trump’s all in—pushing space, hyping Musk—while Biden’s move looks like a cheap block.
Put yourself in their boots—or lack of, up there. Nine months beats the usual six-month tour—cramped, no breeze, same view out the window. For anyone who’s waited on a tow truck or a bureaucrat, it’s a familiar grind, just with better stars. SpaceX could’ve had them down by now; instead, they’re pawns in a chess match. Web chatter says ISS crews train for delays, but this long? That’s a stretch even for pros.
Our Take
Wilmore and Williams got a rotten shake. If Musk’s on the money—and their words hint he is—Biden’s team left them up there to kneecap Trump’s glow. It’s a lousy look: two astronauts, America’s best, strung along for a campaign edge. SpaceX has the gear, Trump’s got the gas—Biden’s squad should’ve let it roll. This isn’t a game; it’s their lives.
Think it over—you’re footing taxes for this, or maybe you’ve got a kid dreaming of space. Nine months in a can because of election math? That’s not how it’s supposed to work. Musk’s ready, Trump’s pushing; get them home. Biden’s call—if it’s what it seems—puts politics over duty, and that’s a fumble we can’t afford. Let’s hope Crew-9 lands clean, and fast.
