Sun Feb 02 09:35:39 IST 2025: ## Trump Intervenes in NASA Mission, Demands Early Return of Astronauts from Space

**Washington, D.C. – February 2, 2025** – Former President Donald Trump has directed Elon Musk’s SpaceX to expedite the return of two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, from the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts, originally scheduled for a late March return via a SpaceX capsule, were stranded on the ISS for nearly a year due to malfunctions in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was meant to be their initial return vehicle.

Trump’s intervention, announced via a post on Truth Social, caught NASA officials by surprise. He claimed the Biden administration had “virtually abandoned” the astronauts. However, NASA maintains the decision to utilize SpaceX for their return was made in August 2024, during the Biden administration, due to safety concerns regarding the Starliner’s propulsion system.

NASA spokesperson confirmed that they are working with SpaceX to bring Wilmore and Williams back “as soon as practical,” while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10. While the agency affirmed the plan for the astronaut’s return remains unchanged, they did not specify whether the Crew-10 launch date would be accelerated. An early return of Crew-9 before Crew-10’s arrival would leave only one American astronaut on the ISS, potentially complicating station maintenance.

The Starliner’s troubled development, marked by engineering problems and cost overruns since 2019, has been a point of contention. While some Trump advisors have attempted to blame the Biden administration, the former president had no involvement in its development. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, developed under a separate NASA contract, has successfully transported astronauts to and from the ISS since 2020. Wilmore and Williams’ mission was intended as Starliner’s final test before routine operations, but propulsion system issues delayed the process and added to its troubled history. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities of space travel and the delicate balance of international cooperation in space exploration.

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