7 months ago
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(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump says he's told Elon Musk to retrieve 2 astronauts who person been stuck connected the International Space Station for months longer than expected.
It's unclear precisely what the program is, since SpaceX was already slated to bring them location successful March. Neither Trump nor Musk person clarified if the timing oregon ngo person changed.
"I person conscionable asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to 'go get' the 2 brave astronauts who person been virtually abandoned successful abstraction by the Biden Administration," Trump posted connected Truth Social connected Tuesday night. "They person been waiting for galore months connected @Space Station. Elon volition soon beryllium connected his way. Hopefully, each volition beryllium safe. Good luck Elon!!!"
Astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore rode a Boeing Starliner to the presumption successful June 2024 for what was expected to beryllium an eight-day mission. But NASA had concerns astir the Starliner aft years of delays, positive leaks and thruster problems during its travel to the station, truthful it came backmost to Earth without them successful September.
SpaceX was readying to retrieve the brace successful February aboard its Crew-9 capsule, but that was pushed backmost a period erstwhile NASA announced that crew's replacement would not marque it to the presumption until March.
“This is my blessed place. I emotion being up present successful space,” Williams said erstwhile the conveyance near without them.
“This is not easy. NASA does a large job, the radical astatine NASA bash a large occupation making things look easy,” Wilmore said. “It’s a precise risky business, and things don’t ever crook retired the mode you want.”
