Former President Donald Trump recently called on Elon Musk’s SpaceX to expedite the return of two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Despite assurances from NASA that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are safe and scheduled to return in March, Trump suggested the duo has been “virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration.”
Posting on Truth Social, Trump stated:
“I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to ‘go get’ the 2 brave astronauts. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Good luck, Elon!”
Elon Musk echoed Trump’s sentiments on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”
However, NASA maintains that the astronauts are neither stranded nor abandoned. The space agency confirmed that Wilmore and Williams have been integral members of the Expedition 72 crew and are scheduled to return aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon capsule after the arrival of the Crew-10 mission in late March.
Wilmore and Williams initially traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June for what was expected to be a brief mission. Technical malfunctions with the Starliner’s thrusters extended their stay, leading NASA to send the spacecraft back without them.
In response, NASA partnered with SpaceX to modify the Crew-9 mission, making room for Wilmore and Williams’ eventual return. The agency adjusted its rotation schedule and assigned a new Crew Dragon capsule for their trip back.
NASA recently delayed the Crew-10 launch to allow SpaceX more time to prepare the capsule, pushing the astronauts’ return to late March. The space agency emphasized that immediate return would risk understaffing the ISS and compromise ongoing scientific research.
“[It is] working expeditiously to safely return the agency’s Crew-9 astronauts as soon as practical while preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions,” NASA said in a statement.
Despite the controversy, Wilmore and Williams have expressed no concerns about their extended stay. During a recent NASA broadcast, Wilmore emphasized their busy schedule aboard the ISS, which includes conducting scientific experiments and preparing for upcoming spacewalks.
“We’re not worried at all. There’s a lot to do up here, and it’s been a joy to work on the station,” Wilmore said.
Trump and Musk’s criticism of the Biden administration comes amid heightened political discussions surrounding NASA’s operations and partnerships with private companies like SpaceX. Musk’s involvement in space policy has become increasingly visible, with SpaceX playing a pivotal role in US space exploration efforts.
Although it remains unclear whether Trump’s comments will impact NASA’s mission schedule, both Musk and Trump have signaled a shared interest in accelerating the astronauts’ return.
NASA, however, appears committed to adhering to its planned timeline to ensure both the safety of its astronauts and the continued operation of the ISS.
The Guardian, CNBC, and the New York Times contributed to this report.
