After facing the wrath, Americans cheer Elon Musk for safe return of NASA astronauts to Earth; set social media on fire
The Back Story
The duo originally were going to be on the International Space Station (ISS) for only a week when they embarked in June on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. However, things didn't go as planned and the initial short-term mission became one that lasted nine months in space.
The astronauts' return, had become more than a flight milestone in space—it also became a political agenda. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had claimed that the two astronauts were left behind by former President Joe Biden due to «political reasons,» reported FOX News.
US president Donald Trump assigned Musk with the task of returning the astronauts back to Earth, reported Fox News. Trump had claimed that the astraunauts had been «abandoned» by the Biden administration, as per the report.
The Astronauts Come Back Home
After months of waiting, Williams and Wilmore landed back on Earth on Tuesday, splashing down off the coast of Florida at 5:57 p.m. ET in a SpaceX Dragon capsule, reported NBC News. They were accompanied by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, as per the report. The group of four, known as Crew-9, closed a chapter in spaceflight history, reported NBC News.
Live Events
Elon Musk's Reaction
Musk congratulates SpaceX and NASA for the safe return of the astronauts, on his social media platform.
White House's Reaction
The White House wrote on X that, Trump kept his promise to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months.
Social Media on Fire
Just after the NASA astronauts landed on Earth, everyone celebrated their return and many posted on social media X, congratulating them on the success as well as cheering Musk's effort to get them back.
FAQs
What caused their mission to last
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