Donald Trump seeks Elon Musk’s help for Sunita Williams’ return from ISS
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US President Donald Trump has reached out to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite the return of American astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS).
Originally scheduled for a 10-day mission in June 2024, the duo has remained in orbit due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was initially meant to bring them back.
NASA had already enlisted SpaceX for the astronauts' return as part of the Crew-9 mission. The initial plan involved launching four astronauts aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, but adjustments were made to ensure Williams and Wilmore's safe return.
However, after a delay in December 2024, SpaceX required additional time to prepare the Dragon capsule for the Crew-10 mission. This pushed back Crew-9 -along with Williams and Wilmore's return - to late March 2025.
Despite concerns about their extended stay, NASA has assured that both astronauts remain in good health and are not stranded.
Elon Musk confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that SpaceX had been asked to accelerate the return mission and stated that preparations were underway. He also criticised the Biden administration, calling the delay unnecessary. Meanwhile, Trump, on his platform Truth Social, expressed confidence in SpaceX’s mission and wished Musk success, though an exact timeline for the return remains unclear.
Sunita Williams, 59, has spoken about the challenges of adapting to prolonged microgravity, noting that she is trying to remember what walking feels like after months in space. Despite the unexpected extension of her mission, she reassured that she remains in good health while awaiting her return to Earth.