SpaceX launch scrubbed hours after Hegseth shares message to rescue mission crew: ‘Wish you Godspeed’
FOX NewsMAR 3
NASA Astronauts Return After 9-Month ISS Extension
Above: Support teams work on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov onboard on March 18, 2025, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Image copyright: Keegan Barber/NASA/Handout/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
In the world of spaceflight, astronauts getting "stranded" is a recurring chapter in our cosmic story. From Sergei Krikalev caught in the Soviet Union's collapse to today's Starliner crew, extended stays beyond Earth are simply part of the profession. As one former astronaut noted, these challenges aren't setbacks but "gifts" in a field where failure teaches the lessons that ultimately lead to success.
Narrative B
NASA and Boeing's reputations have taken a serious blow with their mishandling of the Starliner mission. Despite clear warning signs — including pre-launch helium leaks — officials pressed forward, transforming Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' nine-day journey into an eight-month ordeal. Their denial that astronauts are "stranded" rings hollow as they quietly arrange a SpaceX rescue mission.