Mark Kelly Joins in as Astronauts Pile on Elon Musk: Come Back When You ‘Get the Nerve To Climb Into a Rocket’

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) blasted Elon Musk Friday, implying the SpaceX CEO was too afraid to travel into space as two other astronauts also laid into the billionaire.

Kelly’s attack on Musk came after the senator’s brother defended a Danish astronaut who Musk described as “fully retarded” on social media Thursday.

While reacting to Musk’s joint interview with President Donald Trump on Hannity, astronaut Andreas Mogensen challenged the X owner on a claim the Biden administration left two NASA astronauts on the International Space Station for “political reasons.”

Mogensen wrote, “What a lie. And from someone who complains about lack of honesty from the mainstream media.”

Musk fired back, “You are fully retarded. SpaceX could have brought them back several months ago. I OFFERED THIS DIRECTLY to the Biden administration and they refused. Return WAS pushed back for political reasons. Idiot.”

You are fully retarded.

SpaceX could have brought them back several months ago.

I OFFERED THIS DIRECTLY to the Biden administration and they refused.

Return WAS pushed back for political reasons.

Idiot.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 20, 2025

The exchange ended there until Mark Kelly’s brother – astronaut Scott Kelly – entered the chat on Friday and dialed up a defense of Mogensen.

Scott Kelly wrote, “was the Commander of the @ISS when Andy, @Astro_Andreas flew his first space mission. He is one of the most competent, trustworthy, and honest people I’ve ever met. This rhetoric is beyond the pale but, sadly, not surprising. He does not deserve this kind of disrespect.”

Musk responded to Scott Kelly by doubling down on his Mogensen criticism and blasting astronaut-turned-senator Mark Kelly.

“Yes, he does. He is an idiot who publicly attacked me, despite having no idea what ACTUALLY happened,” Musk said of Mogensen. “Btw, your brother claims to be independent, but is just a Dem donor shill.”

Yes, he does. He is an idiot who publicly attacked me, despite having no idea what ACTUALLY happened.

Btw, your brother claims to be independent, but is just a Dem donor shill.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 21, 2025

The senator fired off a post in which he blasted Musk for never having been to space aboard one of his space company’s rockets.

Mark Kelly wrote, “Hey @ElonMusk, when you finally get the nerve to climb into a rocket ship, come talk to the three of us.”

Musk had not replied to the senator as of the time of publication.