Trump Tasks Elon Musk to ‘Go Get’ NASA Astronauts Stuck on Space Station Since Last June

President Donald Trump has asked Elon Musk to bring back two U.S. astronauts from the International Space Station. The astronauts have been there since their Boeing spacecraft malfunctioned last June.

Key Facts:

  • Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched on June 5 for what should have been an eight-day mission.
  • Their Boeing Starliner lost multiple thrusters approaching the ISS, making it unsafe for re-entry.
  • NASA decided to use Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon capsule to bring them home.
  • The return mission, once expected in February, was pushed to “no earlier than late March.”
  • Trump publicly asked Musk to expedite their rescue, calling out the Biden administration for inaction.

The Rest of The Story:

The Boeing Starliner’s failure left Wilmore and Williams in orbit far longer than anyone intended.

Although Boeing claimed its spacecraft could return the astronauts safely, NASA chose not to risk it and switched to SpaceX’s Dragon capsule plan.

However, that plan ran into its own delays, initially pushing the return to late March.

Trump then posted on social media, saying he asked Musk to speed up the process.

Musk said he would comply, blaming the Biden administration for leaving the astronauts aboard the ISS for so long.

Both astronauts have said they remain in good spirits and continue to work on various scientific projects.

Despite the extended stay, they say they have enough supplies and are in steady contact with ground control.

Commentary:

It is sad to see NASA, once a leader in space exploration, reduced to leaving two of its own stranded for so many months. Biden should have done more to expedite their safe return. In the eyes of many, this situation is another stain on the agency’s image.

Supporters of Trump say this is just the latest example of him stepping in to resolve problems others have neglected.

Bringing Wilmore and Williams back promptly is seen as both necessary for the astronauts’ well-being and a statement on how future space missions should be handled.

The Bottom Line:

Two veteran astronauts were left waiting on the ISS longer than expected. Thanks to Trump’s push and Musk’s plan, there’s finally movement to get them back to Earth.

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