Trump Asks Musk To Rescue NASA Astronauts Stuck In Space

Source: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / Getty

Trump Asks Musk to Rescue NASA Astronauts Stuck in Space

President Donald Trump has called on Elon Musk and SpaceX to assist in bringing two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, back from the International Space Station (ISS).

Trump described the astronauts as “virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration” and wished Musk luck in his rescue effort.

The astronauts had initially traveled to the ISS in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule for what was expected to be a 10-day mission.

However, technical difficulties, including malfunctioning thrusters, led to the spacecraft returning to Earth without them.

Since then, the pair have remained aboard the ISS, with NASA emphasizing they are not stranded.

According to NASA, Wilmore and Williams are scheduled to return by the end of March as part of an upcoming Crew-10 mission jointly conducted by NASA and SpaceX.

This mission will also bring in a fresh team of astronauts to the space station, ensuring its operations remain unaffected.

Despite NASA’s assurances, Trump has criticized the delay, using it as an opportunity to fault the Biden administration.

Musk responded by confirming his intention to help retrieve the astronauts, posting on social media, “Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”

While Musk’s involvement highlights his close ties to Trump and his significant role in federal initiatives, NASA maintains that the timeline for the astronauts’ return aligns with broader operational and safety priorities.

The situation underscores the complex challenges of space exploration while drawing political attention to a routine yet critical mission.