Depends on what you read:

Lots of articles that directly contradict each other on what the crew said. Their words are being twisted to suit whatever bias the media wants reinforced.

When reading news stories, be sure to detect "interpretations" of what someone said instead of quotes of what they actually said. Better yet, see and hear the conversation directly.

Whatever SpaceX offered to do, it wasn't going to be free. Musk presents it like this "offer" to go get them, but it really was a request to get more money. Manned spaceflights cost way more than satellites, about $300M per (Crew 10 to 14, 5 trips, is $1.5B, per contract), so even if NASA was aware of this, that's not money sitting around they can just spend. Is bringing down the two astronauts 7 months early worth $300M to US taxpayers?

Where is the reporter who asks Musk "what were you going to charge to go get the astronauts?". Are there any journalists any more? Or do reporters who ask questions like that get banned from the press conferences?

Musk seems hell bent on cutting government "waste" unless it is a contract he profits from.

From what I can tell, no serious offer was presented to NASA, so this is all posturing, propaganda, misinformation, whatever.

Mike C.

Bingo.

I vaguely recall some talk late last year about sending up a dedicated Crew Dragon to bring them back. This was one of the considerations along with "just stuff 'em back in the Starliner and cross your fingers". and "wait for another ride later". Choice A was considered too expensive given that the crew was safe and the delay in returning them was not a big deal to NASA or the astronauts. Choice B was considered too risky. So, here we are, following the plan that NASA made (not the "Biden Administration"). I'm pretty sure that Biden didn't give a rip which choice they made so long as the crew got back safely. It was NASA's call, and Bill Nelson made it long before he left the position on 20JAN25. Since then, Acting Administrator Janet Petro, who was nominated by and reports directly to the President, has not elected to accept any "rescue" offers and is proceeding with the plan as it stands.

I fail to see how any of this rises to the level of Soap Opera, let alone political intrigue and conspiracy.

Whooo, there are some details in this article I haven't seen before.



Well worth a read.

Good article. Thanks for posting.