Trump, Musk Discuss Astronauts' ISS Return Plan

Former President Donald Trump has requested that Elon Musk and SpaceX expedite the return of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), despite an existing plan for their return in March 2025. The astronauts originally traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner, which encountered technical issues, prompting NASA to arrange for their return via SpaceX's Crew Dragon. Trump's intervention has been seen as unusual, given that NASA had already coordinated with SpaceX on the return mission last year during President Biden's administration. NASA and SpaceX have emphasized that the astronauts are not stranded and that their delayed return aligns with safety and operational priorities. Musk responded affirmatively to Trump's request but noted the timeline for the astronauts' return had already been managed by NASA, highlighting a disconnect between the political narrative and NASA's operational plans.