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SpaceX to Rescue Astronauts Stranded on ISS for Nine Months

The delayed return mission, authorized by President Trump, follows claims that a prior SpaceX rescue offer was blocked during the Biden administration.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inspect safety hardware aboard the International Space Station.
Donald Trump, left, and NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, right.
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Overview

  • NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stranded on the International Space Station since June 2024 due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule.
  • The astronauts' eight-day mission was extended to nine months after Starliner returned to Earth without them due to thruster failures and helium leaks.
  • SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is preparing a Crew Dragon capsule to bring the astronauts home, with the rescue mission expected to launch around March 19 or 20, 2025.
  • Musk claimed that an earlier rescue offer by SpaceX in 2024 was rejected by the Biden administration for political reasons, a statement supported by astronaut Butch Wilmore.
  • President Trump authorized the upcoming rescue mission and criticized the previous administration for delays, while Biden officials have denied political motivations behind the astronauts' extended stay.