Biden Jokes About Rescuing Stranded ISS Astronauts

During the APEC summit in Peru, President Joe Biden humorously suggested he might go to space to rescue astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who are stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunction with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their mission, initially planned for eight days, has been extended to nearly seven months, with their return now scheduled for February 2025 via SpaceX's Crew Dragon. Biden's comments came during a bilateral meeting with Peru President Dina Boluarte, where he joked that NASA Administrator Bill Nelson might send him to space at his wife's behest. The president also acknowledged Peru's participation in the US-led Artemis Accords on space exploration. Meanwhile, the situation with the ISS has contributed to tensions between the US and Russia. Biden's trip to South America has been characterized by limited press access, contrasting with Chinese President Xi Jinping's more prominent presence at the summit.