Trump asks Musk to bring stranded NASA astronauts back to Earth

US President Donald Trump has called on American billionaire Elon Musk and his company SpaceX to help bring back astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly eight months due to a malfunction of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Boeing shuttle.

“I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to “go get” the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. They have been waiting for many months on Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!” Trump wrote on his X page, according to Caliber.Az.

To recall, astronauts Williams and Wilmore were sent to the ISS on June 5, 2024, for a week-long test flight aboard Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft.

However, due to technical issues, the return date of the two astronauts was postponed.

In June 2024, NASA astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore embarked on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Originally planned as an eight-day mission, their stay was unexpectedly extended due to technical issues with the Starliner capsule, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. As a result, the spacecraft returned to Earth without its crew, leaving Williams and Wilmore aboard the ISS.

During their extended mission, both astronauts have remained active and engaged. Williams has participated in educational outreach, sharing her experiences with students and emphasizing the importance of adaptability in space missions. Both astronauts have also continued their scientific research and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS.

NASA, prioritizing crew safety, has decided to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth using a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Their return is anticipated no earlier than late March 2025.

By Khagan Isayev