Donald Trump has publicly appealed to Elon Musk’s SpaceX to assist in retrieving two astronauts he claims are "stranded" in space, even though NASA has assured that the pair will safely return to Earth by the end of March. Posting on Truth Social, Trump stated, “I’ve asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to rescue the two brave astronauts who have been essentially abandoned in space by the Biden Administration.” He concluded with, “Good luck, Elon!!!”
The astronauts in question, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams of NASA, traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024. What was meant to be a 10-day mission turned into an extended stay due to technical complications with the spacecraft, including problems with the thrusters. The Starliner had to return to Earth without them, leaving Wilmore and Williams on the ISS.
NASA, however, has firmly rejected Trump’s claims of the astronauts being stranded, clarifying that the duo is not in any danger and can be brought back to Earth if needed. The space agency explained that bringing them back prematurely could cause staffing issues aboard the ISS and interfere with ongoing scientific research and maintenance.
To address the situation, a joint mission between NASA and SpaceX, known as Crew-10, has been scheduled. This mission will send four new astronauts to the ISS and safely return Wilmore and Williams. Originally planned for earlier in the year, the mission’s launch has been delayed slightly, with a new target date of March.
Trump criticized the Biden administration for the perceived neglect of the astronauts, stating on Truth Social, “It’s terrible that the Biden administration left them there for so long.”
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and a supporter of Trump, confirmed on X that he had been contacted by Trump regarding the astronauts. Musk said he would fulfill the request, though no specific details were given about how or when this might happen.
NASA has consistently maintained that the situation is under control. Officials have emphasized that any implication that the astronauts were "abandoned" is misleading, and that the delay in their return is a calculated decision designed to ensure the ISS remains properly staffed and functional.
NASA has yet to comment on Trump’s involvement but remains focused on the upcoming Crew-10 mission, which highlights the ongoing collaboration between NASA and SpaceX in advancing human space exploration.