US: Trump Asks Musk To Bring Back NASA Astronauts

US President Donald Trump has tasked billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring back stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore home, from the International Space Station (ISS).

On June 5, 2024, the two seasoned astronauts embarked on a space journey from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. It was planned that the duo would stay in space for 8-10 days and return back, after completing their mission. However, they got stuck in space for nearly eight months, due to a technical glitch in the Starliner capsule.

The Starliner’s propulsion system faced propellant leaks and thruster problems.

During the overstay, concerns were expressed over the deterioration of the both astronauts’ health.

However, Trump accused the previous Joe Biden’s regime for virtually ‘abandoing’ Sunita and Wilmore in space. At the same time, he called the two NASA astronauts ‘brave’.

Trump, in a Truth Social post announced, “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!!!”

Elon Musk posted about the development on X, stating “The President has asked SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the International Space Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”

SpaceX launched a four-seat Crew Dragon spacecraft to ISS with two members aboard and leaving two other seats for Sunita and Wilmore.

Now, it is being reported that the two NASA astronauts stuck in Space could return to earth by February or March this year.