Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been living on the International Space Station (ISS) since June of last year.
On January 28, President Donald Trump announced that he has enlisted the help of billionaire businessman and SpaceX founder Elon Musk to bring back two NASA astronauts who have been stationed at the ISS for several months.
In August 2024, NASA selected Musk’s SpaceX to transport the astronauts back to Earth on a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft, which was launched for NASA’s Crew-9 mission in September 2024, is currently docked at the space station with empty seats reserved for the two astronauts. Originally planned for late March, the return mission has faced delays.
“We will do so,” Musk assured.
“They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!”
Trump was referring to astronauts Sunita Williams, 59, and Butch Wilmore, 61, who were sent to space on June 5, 2024, for various research and maintenance tasks at the ISS.
Williams and Wilmore were scheduled to return to Earth in February alongside astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who arrived at the ISS in September 2024.
“The agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will return to Earth following the arrival of Crew-10 to the orbital laboratory,” NASA stated in December.
Despite the prolonged mission, NASA assured that Williams and Wilmore are in good health and that their time in space is within acceptable limits.
The Epoch Times reached out to a NASA spokesperson for further comments.
Reuters contributed to this report.
