Conspiracy theories float around return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore

While their safe arrival is being celebrated across mainstream media, conspiracy theorists and skeptics are taking to social media to argue that there have been several inconsistencies in the narrative

Hyderabad: The recent return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore who were reportedly stranded in space, has sparked heated debates, with conspiracy theorists questioning the legitimacy of the space agency’s rescue mission.

While their safe arrival is being celebrated across mainstream media, conspiracy theorists and skeptics are taking to social media to argue that there have been several inconsistencies in the narrative while pointing to something more mysterious at play.

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Conspiracy theorists raise concerns over the space agency suddenly finding a resolution to the critical malfunction, which led to the astronauts being stranded in space for weeks. Bringing them back following mounting pressure from public is suspicious, they claim, with some suggesting that the conveniently timed return is too good to be true.

Doubts are also being raised over the live footage of the astronauts’ return. Critics claim that the low-quality, grainy visuals look staged, questioning why NASA—a space agency known for its advanced technology—failed to provide, high-resolution coverage.

Some critics have also found the expressions of the Sunita and Butch during the media briefings to be rather unusual. They have also gone on to say that the briefings seemed scripted as the astronauts lacked emotional relief or excitement of  escaping a life-threatening situation.

Lack of technical explanations on the rescue operations is also being questioned by the theorists, saying that NASA has seemingly overcome the challenge with little to no explanation. The resolution which was found “out of nowhere” raises questions about the credibility of the entire episode, they say.

While these theories remain unverified, they have sparked widespread discussions among truth-seekers and space enthusiasts alike. Whether the astronauts’ return was a genuine success or an elaborate cover-up, one thing is certain—people are asking more questions than ever.