 "Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore (right) at the International Space Station. PTI")
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday night he had asked Elon Musk’s SpaceX to return two NASA astronauts, Indian-origin Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space since June last year. He alleged that both astronauts were virtually abandoned in space by the previous Biden administration from the International Space Station.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump emphasised that Tesla CEO Musk would help bring back the astronauts and everything would be fine. “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!!!”
Earlier, Musk on Tuesday said Trump had asked him to return the two astronauts “as soon as possible.”
Musk said, “The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so."
The two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, are already scheduled to fly back on a SpaceX capsule in March.
A NASA spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wilmore and Williams flew Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the ISS in June last year for a test mission that was supposed to last eight days, but the two veteran astronauts got stuck in the spacecraft and have been there for nearly a year due to issues with the craft’s propulsion system.
In August, NASA, under President Joe Biden’s administration, decided that Starliner was too risky for their return and chose SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring them back to Earth.
The Starliner spacecraft experienced some technical issues, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. As a result, their stay at the ISS has been extended.
During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore have been actively involved in various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS. They have adapted to the challenges of prolonged space missions, contributing significantly to the station’s operations.