A NASA astronaut, back from space, expressed gratitude to Elon Musk and Donald Trump for their support of space exploration.
NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams recently returned to Earth after a lengthy mission in space.
Their time in orbit was much longer than expected, leading to significant experiences and reflections.
In a recent interview, they shared their thoughts on their mission and the roles of notable figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump in bringing them home.
Astronauts faced an unexpectedly long stay in space.
Wilmore and Williams were launched into space on June 5, 2024. Their mission was originally planned to last just one week.
However, things did not go as planned when they docked at the International Space Station (ISS).
A malfunction with the Starliner’s thruster made it unsafe for them to return as scheduled. This unexpected situation left them stranded for nine months.
Trump and Musk helped bring the astronauts home.
On March 7, 2025, President Trump announced that he would work with Elon Musk to bring the astronauts back safely.
This promise became a reality when Wilmore and Williams finally splashed down off the coast of Florida on March 8.
In their first interview after returning, Wilmore expressed gratitude for the support they received from both Trump and Musk.
NASA astronaut expresses gratitude to Elon Musk and Donald Trump in first interview since returning from space
During the interview, Wilmore stated, “I have no reason not to believe anything they say, because they’ve earned my trust.”
He appreciated that national leaders were actively involved in space exploration.
“And for that, I am grateful that our national leaders actually are coming in and taking part in our human space flight program, which we see is hugely important global significance, and they take an active role.
“And based on the past and what we see now with them doing that it’s not just refreshing, it’s empowering. It’s strengthening.”
Wilmore also reflected on the personal challenges of being away from his family.
He mentioned that missing important moments, like his daughter’s high school year, was difficult.
However, he understood the importance of his mission and the responsibilities that came with it. “It’s not about me, it’s about what our national goals are,” he said.
Wilmore added. “It’s about what this human space flight program is about. It’s our national goals.
“I have to wrap myself, my mind, around ‘what does our nation need out of me right now?’
“Did I think about not being there for my daughter’s high school year, of course… certainly, deal with the personal side of it, but I can’t let that interfere with what I’m called to do.”
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams also shares her thoughts
She explained that they had to quickly adapt to their situation. “My first thought was, we just got to pivot,” she said.
“I was like, ‘OK, let’s make the best of it.’ We planned, we trained that we’d be there for some part of a time, so we were ready to just jump into it and take on the tasks that were given to us.”
