Overview
- 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.