trump-asks-musk-to-rescue-williams-from-iss-blames-biden-for-neglect

US President Donald Trump has called on Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring back NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), blaming the Biden administration for “abandoning” the two.

 

Williams and Wilmore, who were supposed to return to Earth after a 10-day mission, have been stranded on the space station for over seven months, since June 2024.

 

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: "I have asked Musk to ‘go get’ the two brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden administration."

 

He added that they have "been waiting for many months on the Space Station" and wished Musk good luck in bringing them back. "Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe," Trump wrote.

 

Elon Musk responded by confirming the President's request on Twitter. "We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long," the SpaceX CEO said.

 

Williams, 59, and Wilmore, 62, launched from Earth aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule on 5 June 2024 for what was meant to be an 8-10 day mission.

 

However, issues with the spacecraft, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, forced NASA to bring back the Starliner capsule on 7 September, leaving the astronauts behind.

 

In response, SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon spacecraft in September with only two astronauts aboard, leaving two seats vacant for the return of Williams and Wilmore.

 

While the astronauts were initially expected to return by the end of February, their return has now been delayed until late March. SpaceX requires more time to prepare a new spacecraft, the SpaceX Crew-10, which will also deliver a replacement crew to the station.

 

The prolonged stay has raised concerns about Williams’ health, with recent images showing possible weight loss. However, Williams addressed these concerns in an interview in November, saying, "I think my body has changed a little bit, but I weigh the same."

 

If they return in late March, Williams and Wilmore will have spent around 300 days in space.