Trump and Musk Push for Earlier Return of ISS Astronauts

The U.S. President and SpaceX CEO aim to expedite the return of two astronauts stranded on the ISS due to spacecraft issues, though exact timing remains uncertain.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have been on the ISS since June 2024 after technical issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule delayed their return.
President Trump publicly called on Elon Musk and SpaceX to bring the astronauts back earlier than the planned March 2025 timeline.
SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, initially scheduled for March, has been adjusted to accommodate the astronauts' return, though NASA has not confirmed any earlier date.
NASA delayed the astronauts' February return to allow more time for SpaceX's Crew-10 mission preparations, adding uncertainty to the timeline.
Trump's intervention marks an unusual presidential involvement in NASA operations, surprising many within the agency.