Wed Jan 29 06:36:09 UTC 2025: ## Trump Taps SpaceX to Rescue Stranded NASA Astronauts

**Washington, D.C. –** Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has personally requested SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to retrieve two NASA astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 2024, when their Boeing Starliner mission was plagued by technical malfunctions that prevented their timely return.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused the Biden administration of abandoning the astronauts, who were originally slated for a week-long test flight. Musk subsequently confirmed on X that SpaceX will undertake the rescue mission, echoing Trump’s criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the situation.

While a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, capable of returning the astronauts, is already docked at the ISS, NASA had only recently planned for their return in March. The delay has drawn significant criticism. Ms. Williams notably conducted a spacewalk on January 16th, her eighth, providing a much-needed respite during her extended stay. The rescue mission promises a swift resolution to this high-profile space emergency.

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