US President Donald Trump has Aked Elon Musk’s SpaceX to expedite the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore
US President Donald Trump has called on Elon Musk’s SpaceX to expedite the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that the astronauts had been “virtually abandoned in space by the Biden administration” and expressed his hope that SpaceX would bring them back safely.
The astronauts were initially sent to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule for what was expected to be an eight-to-ten-day mission. However, due to technical issues with the spacecraft, their return has been delayed for nearly eight months, raising concerns about their well-being. Trump emphasized their bravery during this extended mission and criticized the Biden administration for the prolonged delay in their return.
Elon Musk confirmed Trump’s request on social media, stating that SpaceX would work to bring the astronauts home “as soon as possible”. Despite Trump’s intervention, NASA had already planned their return for late March 2025, indicating that the situation may not be as urgent as portrayed.
