Trump claims he asked Elon Musk to bring astronauts back from ISS
Trump claims he asked Elon Musk to bring astronauts back from ISS: Former President Donald Trump has claimed that he personally asked Elon Musk to help bring astronauts back from the International Space Station (ISS). His comments during an appearance in the Oval Office have also drawn political criticism from the Biden administration. Trump has also accused President Joe Biden of being embarrassed by the situation and of wanting the current administration to leave astronauts stranded in space. The claims have been controversial, especially since NASA and the astronauts have repeatedly made it clear that they have never felt abandoned or alone.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, currently docked at the ISS, is the vehicle designated to return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The spacecraft has been at the ISS since September, long before Trump recently announced his involvement. Despite Trump’s claim that he had authorized Musk to return the astronauts a week ago, NASA’s plans have not changed. The astronauts are already scheduled to return using SpaceX’s Dragon as part of the agency’s mission framework. However, Trump’s comments have fueled the political debate surrounding space exploration and the role of private companies like SpaceX.
The controversy stems from the delay in the return of Williams and Wilmore, who were originally scheduled to launch aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024. The mission was designed as a test flight for the Starliner, which is intended to be another vehicle for NASA’s commercial crew program alongside SpaceX’s Dragon. However, unexpected technical issues forced NASA to send the Starliner back to Earth without its crew in September. As a result, Williams and Wilmore were forced to remain on the ISS until alternative return plans could be finalized. NASA chose to integrate them into the Crew-9 mission, arranging for their return aboard the SpaceX Dragon that arrived with Crew-9 in late September.
Trump claims he asked Elon Musk to bring astronauts back from ISS
Despite the issues with the Starliner, NASA and the astronauts are committed to a smooth return. The crew has been actively involved in ongoing research and maintenance on the ISS while awaiting their return. In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, both Williams and Wilmore stressed that they never felt abandoned or isolated. “We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stranded, we don’t feel alone,” Wilmore said, dismissing the notion that there was ever any risk or political influence affecting their mission. NASA has reiterated that astronaut safety is its top priority and that decisions regarding their return will be based on mission planning rather than political influence.
The upcoming Crew-10 mission, which will replace Crew-9 on the ISS, is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 12. The mission will mark the 10th operational rotation under NASA’s commercial crew program and will continue the work of previous crews on the station. After Crew-10 arrives, a series of handover operations will take place before Williams and Wilmore finally join Crew-9 for the return trip to Earth. NASA officials have indicated that the return trip could take place as early as March 19, depending on mission logistics and conditions in space.
Trump’s latest comments add a political dimension to the standard space mission. While private companies like SpaceX have played a key role in NASA’s commercial crew program, the intersection of politics and space exploration remains a contentious issue. Regardless of Trump’s claims, NASA remains focused on executing its mission effectively, ensuring the safe return of all astronauts, and advancing its long-term space exploration goals. This situation underscores the growing collaboration between government agencies and private space companies, while also highlighting how political narratives shape public perceptions of space activities.