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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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The astronauts who had to stay for a prolonged mission aboard the International Space Station after their return vessel failed safety checks have disputed President Donald Trump's claims that they were "abandoned" by the Biden administration.
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore said they felt prepared and committed and wanted to change the rhetoric around their stay on the ISS.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
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Why It Matters
Williams and Wilmore's mission to the International Space Station in June 2024 was originally planned to last only a few days but will now be over eight months after a series of technical failures, including thruster malfunctions and a helium leak, with the Boeing Starliner crew capsule that took them to space. Since then, Trump has claimed that former President Joe Biden "abandoned" the astronauts in space.
What To Know
Trump has repeatedly said that Williams and Wilmore were "abandoned" by the Biden administration, saying in January that he was tasking Elon Musk with organizing a return journey with a SpaceX vehicle.
However, in a Friday interview with CNN, the two astronauts said they did not feel abandoned and wanted people to stop considering them as stranded on the ISS.
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"We don't feel abandoned, we don't feel stuck, we don't feel stranded," Wilmore told CNN. " I understand why others may think that, but we come prepared. We come committed.
"That is what the human space flight program is; it prepares for any and all contingencies that we can conceive of, and we prepare for those.
"So if you'll help us change the rhetoric, help us change the narrative...let's change it to 'prepared and committed' rather than what you've been hearing."
Williams and Wilmore's return journey is currently scheduled for March. NASA has been planning the return for several months, with frequent updates being published during the Biden administration.
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump on Truth Social in January: "I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to 'go get' the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. Good luck Elon!!!"
Elon Musk on X, formerly Twitter: "The POTUS has asked SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the Space Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long."
What Happens Next
Williams and Wilmore's return journey is scheduled for March this year, having been delayed from February.
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