Two American astronauts stranded on the International Space Station after a six-month delay have rejected claims that they were “abandoned” in space. In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, astronaut Barry Wilmore said that he and fellow astronaut Suni Williams do not feel abandoned or stuck. The issue arose when the Starliner spacecraft experienced problems with its thrusters and helium leaks as it approached the space station in June. As a result, NASA decided not to return the astronauts on the damaged spacecraft.
Instead, SpaceX will bring Williams and Wilmore home in March using their Crew Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX was contracted by NASA prior to President Trump’s return to the White House. The president had publicly criticized the delay, stating that he wanted to “go get” the astronauts who have been waiting for months. However, both Wilmore and Williams emphasized that they were prepared for extended stays in space and did not feel abandoned. They have participated in numerous experiments and spacewalks during their extended stay, including testing the capabilities of a spacecraft called Astrobees, which can fly around the station in microgravity.
Source: https://www.scrippsnews.com/science-and-tech/space/astronauts-challenge-trumps-abandonment-claim-during-extended-space-stay