President Donald Trump recently stated that he has asked SpaceX to return two NASA astronauts left "stranded" aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This assertion, however, contradicts NASA's ongoing plans and timelines for the astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are not actually stranded but are awaiting a scheduled return.

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, confirmed Trump's request to expedite the return of Williams and Wilmore, who were initially sent to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The trip was supposed to last around ten days but was extended due to significant technical issues with the Starliner, namely propulsion failures. NASA subsequently made arrangements for their return via a SpaceX Crew-9 capsule, which is already docked with the ISS.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “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.” While the astronauts have been aboard the ISS for over six months, NASA has maintained that they have sufficient supplies and are in good health.

NASA initially planned for the astronauts' return in February 2025, but this was delayed until late March due to necessary modifications and preparations for the next Crew-10 mission, which must launch before Crew-9 can return. NASA has insisted that at no point were Williams and Wilmore in danger or unfit to stay aboard the ISS.

Musk echoed Trump’s sentiments on X, stating, “Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long,” further complicating the narrative surrounding their status in space. This confusion arises amid a serious operational structure that NASA has developed, which includes careful coordination of astronaut rotations.

Experts have noted that returning the astronauts too soon could lead to staffing issues at the ISS, as their departure must coincide with the arrival of new crew members. Going back too early might hinder scientific research activities aboard the station, a situation that NASA actively seeks to avoid.

While the future of their return remains uncertain due to the political dynamics at play, engineers and astronauts on the ground continue to monitor their well-being and conduct their scheduled tasks on the International Space Station. Both Williams and Wilmore have expressed their understanding of the situation and have been involved in numerous scientific projects relevant to the mission.

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