Trump asks SpaceX to ‘go get’ two stranded ISS astronauts. They’re not stranded
SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced plans to bring home two NASA astronauts who arrived at the International Space Station on Boeing’s Starliner capsule “as soon as possible,” at the request of President Trump.
Musk, the head of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, has played a crucial role in Trump’s re-election campaign and the early days of the President’s second term in office.
“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. “Good luck Elon!!!”
The astronauts Musk and Trump are presumably referencing are NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. NASA has long said the crew isn’t “stranded” and a plan to return them safely to Earth has been in place for months. In fact, NASA astronauts always train for lengthy missions and medical experts have kept a watchful eye on the health of the two during their extended stay.
The astronauts arrived at the International Space Station on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft after launching from Florida’s Cape Canaveral in June 2024. The test flight was supposed to last only eight days. But engineers at NASA and Boeing uncovered issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system, and decided to return the vehicle back to Earth without a crew. The two have remained at the station ever since.

Wilmore and Williams are slated to fly home on SpaceX’s Crew-9 capsule, which is currently docked to the ISS. It was sent up with only two crewmembers — a move to make room for Wilmore and Williams to return in the capsule with them next month.
But NASA recently announced a delay in Crew-10, which would bring Crew-9’s replacement to the station, to late March. NASA flies a new crew to the ISS before returning the previous one, maintaining adequate staffing at the station.
NASA could return Wilmore and Williams at any time, as their capsule is safe to come home now — but doing so would leave the station understaffed and jeopardize the science and maintenance being performed aboard the station. NASA did not immediately return an email requesting clarification on the proposed return mission.
SpaceX has already been awarded contracts for upcoming astronaut missions on the schedule. It’s unclear if NASA would have to pay Musk’s company for an additional flight to return the crew early.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley discusses his mission to hold big tech accountable
Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri talks about his mission to hold tech companies accountable even as they try to align themselves with President Donald Trump.
Thailand deports dozens of Uyghurs to China, activists say
The detainees were part of a group of some 300 Uyghurs who fled China and were arrested in Thailand in 2014. Thailand deported more than 100 of them to China in 2015, drawing condemnation.
Gene Hackman, who thrived playing the tough guy, dies at 95
Hackman epitomized a 1970s, edgy, tightly wound masculinity. He appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows, and won Oscars for his performances in The French Connection and Unforgiven.
Curious about exploring your spirituality? Ask yourself these 4 questions
You don't need to be religious to create a meaningful connection to something greater than yourself. If you're interested in examining that relationship, grab a pen and paper and answer these prompts.
A rare ‘parade’ of all 7 planets will move across the night sky this week
This phenomenon known as a "planet parade," will feature Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all present at the same time along a line in the night sky on Friday, NASA says.
Language as protagonist in Cristina Rivera Garza’s newly translated novel
Pulitzer winner Cristina Rivera Garza offers new perspective on gender violence through a murder mystery and poetry.