The SpaceX founder has been criticized by former astronauts
Elon Musk’s recent outbursts on social media have certainly earned him some enemies in the astronaut community, and now, it seems he has a fresh challenge to face from none other than a NASA captain.
One of the biggest initiatives that both Musk and former President Donald Trump have championed since Trump’s return to office is the effort to bring back two astronauts—Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore—from the International Space Station (ISS). The pair has been stuck in space since June 2024, with what was supposed to be a brief eight-day mission turning into a months-long ordeal. Now, nearly seven months later, the astronauts are still aboard the ISS, waiting to return home.
The root of the issue lies in a malfunction with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was meant to bring them back to Earth. Technical difficulties with the spacecraft have left them stranded in orbit, unable to return despite their mission’s completion.
Instead of returning on their original spacecraft, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been waiting for the SpaceX Crew-10 mission to arrive, as NASA requires a handover process when astronauts leave the International Space Station (ISS). However, mechanical issues with Crew-10 have delayed their return yet again.
After his return to office, President Trump instructed Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, to step in and rescue the astronauts, claiming they had been “virtually abandoned” by the Biden administration. Musk echoed these sentiments during a Fox News interview, accusing the previous administration of leaving Williams and Wilmore in space for what he believed were political reasons.
Unsurprisingly, Musk’s comments didn’t sit well with many current and former astronauts. Andreas Morgensen, a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, quickly took to social media to push back, calling Musk’s claims a “lie,” and questioning how someone who frequently criticizes the media for dishonesty could make such an unfounded statement.
Musk didn’t back down in the face of criticism, firing back at Morgensen with insults, calling him “full r******”* and an “idiot” while doubling down on his stance. Morgensen, however, calmly responded with facts, stating:
“You know as well as I do that Butch and Suni are returning with Crew-9, as has been the plan since last September. Even now, you are not sending up a rescue ship to bring them home. They are returning on the Dragon capsule that has been on ISS since last September.”
Backing Morgensen, former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly also entered the debate, defending his colleague’s credibility and calling Musk’s rhetoric “beyond the pale but, sadly, not surprising.”
Predictably, Musk lashed out once again, repeating his insults and even taking aim at Scott’s twin brother, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who is also a former astronaut. However, as reported by Futurism, Mark Kelly hit back in a way Musk seemingly wasn’t prepared for—issuing a bold and unexpected challenge that left the billionaire surprisingly silent.
Mark Kelly didn’t hold back, delivering a mic-drop moment on social media:
“Hey @ElonMusk, when you finally get the nerve to climb into a rocket ship, come talk to the three of us.”
But he wasn’t done. Kelly kept the punches coming, adding:
“If Elon’s ready to go to space, I’m happy to go with him. I know where the space station is. In the meantime, he should stop trying to drag our astronauts into political fights.”
The irony of Musk—a man who has revolutionized modern space travel—never actually going to space himself wasn’t lost on anyone. For all his bold claims and online battles, this was one argument he couldn’t spin in his favor—and for once, he had no comeback.
