In a surprising turn of events, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced that former President Donald Trump requested his company's assistance in bringing two astronauts back from space. According to Musk, Trump asked SpaceX to rescue Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station for over seven months. However, this claim contrasts with NASA's ongoing efforts to safely return the astronauts, which are already well underway.

Musk made the announcement on January 28th via a post on X, stating that Trump had asked SpaceX to expedite the retrieval of the astronauts, describing them as "stranded." The billionaire entrepreneur pledged to comply with the request and criticized the Biden administration for leaving the astronauts in space for an extended period. Trump later corroborated Musk's statement on his platform Truth Social, emphasizing that he had indeed asked SpaceX to bring the astronauts home quickly.

Despite these claims, NASA has been diligently preparing for the astronauts' return since December. The space agency has been collaborating closely with SpaceX on the Dragon spacecraft, which is scheduled to fetch the astronauts no earlier than late March. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, highlighted the meticulous nature of spacecraft preparation, underscoring the importance of thorough fabrication, assembly, and testing processes.

The astronauts, Williams and Wilmore, initially embarked on their journey in June 2024 for what was intended to be a brief test flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule. However, technical issues with the spacecraft led to an extended stay in space. Despite the unexpected delay, both astronauts have remained positive and expressed confidence in the decision-making process. Williams noted the impressive effort by leadership to consider all opinions and make informed decisions.

Around the time of the spacecraft's malfunction, Wilmore assured that neither he nor Williams felt disappointed about the extended mission. They emphasized that experts were working diligently to ensure their safe return. As the situation unfolds, it remains clear that multiple parties are committed to bringing the astronauts home safely, with NASA and SpaceX continuing their collaborative efforts.