US astronauts say no political motive behind delay in return

New York [US], March 6: Two US astronauts who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June last year have dismissed speculation that the delay in their return to Earth was politically motivated.
"From my standpoint, politics is not playing into this at all," said astronaut Barry Wilmore on Tuesday during a live press conference hosted by US space agency NASA and broadcast from the ISS.
Wilmore, along with fellow US astronaut Suni Williams, travelled to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in early June 2024, aiming for a one-week mission. However, due to technical problems with the spacecraft, NASA opted to return the Starliner to Earth empty in September. A revised plan now sees a SpaceX Dragon capsule, with a replacement crew, scheduled to launch to the ISS on March 12. SpaceX founder Elon Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, had previously suggested - without evidence - that the delay was politically motivated by the Biden administration. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune