RNS: In a bold move, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been tasked with rescuing two astronauts currently stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Trump revealed that Musk, who already oversees the Department of Governmental Efficiency, would take charge of the mission to safely return NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth.
“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!!!” Trump’s post read. The message was also shared on X, the social media platform owned by Musk.
Williams and Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 2024, with their mission initially planned to last just 10 days. However, due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft—which had transported them to the station—the mission was extended indefinitely. In August, NASA cancelled the Starliner’s return mission after further complications arose, opting to send the spacecraft back uncrewed in September.
The astronauts are now set to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, part of the Crew-9 mission launched in late September. The capsule is expected to bring them home safely in the coming days, marking the end of their extended stay on the space station.
