Elon Musk Promises to Bring Stranded NASA Astronauts Back to Earth Within Four Weeks

In a major development in space exploration, Elon Musk has vowed to bring back two NASA astronauts—Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams—who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over eight months. The SpaceX founder confirmed that his company will execute the rescue mission within “about four weeks,” following accusations that the previous administration left them in space for political reasons.

The revelation came during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, where Musk appeared alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk stated that at Trump’s request, SpaceX would accelerate efforts to return the astronauts to Earth sooner than NASA’s scheduled plan.

"At the president's request, or instruction, we are accelerating the return of the astronauts," Musk said. He added, “They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good. He [Biden] was going to leave them in space. I think he was going to leave them in space.”

The bold remarks have sparked political controversy while also highlighting SpaceX’s capability as a leader in human spaceflight and rescue missions.

Stranded for Over Eight Months: How Did It Happen?

Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled for just an eight-day mission aboard the ISS, launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. However, the mission quickly turned into an unexpected, prolonged stay after technical malfunctions made their spacecraft unsafe for return.

The Boeing Starliner capsule experienced multiple issues from the moment it launched to its docking at the ISS on June 6. NASA, after conducting weeks of tests, eventually declared the capsule unfit for human return and sent it back to Earth empty in September 2024.

Since then, the astronauts have remained on the space station, waiting for an alternative means to return home. NASA originally scheduled their return for early April, but SpaceX’s accelerated rescue mission is now expected to bring them back by mid-March.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Capsule to the Rescue

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon Capsule in September 2024 in an effort to rescue Wilmore and Williams. While the capsule successfully arrived at the ISS, NASA had yet to clear it for the return mission, leading to additional delays.

Musk, however, has expressed confidence in SpaceX’s ability to execute the mission smoothly, stating:

"We've brought astronauts back from the space station many times before, and always with success."

With this new commitment from Musk and SpaceX, Wilmore and Williams are now expected to return to Earth around March 19, 2025, approximately two weeks ahead of NASA’s previous plan.

Astronauts Remain Positive Despite Extended Stay

Despite their unexpectedly prolonged mission, Wilmore and Williams remain in good spirits and have dismissed concerns that they were abandoned.

“We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded,” Wilmore reassured.

Williams also remained positive, acknowledging that their stay was much longer than expected but emphasizing that they made the most of their time on the ISS.

While the astronauts admitted they are ready to return home, they also emphasized that the normal cycle of astronaut rotations on the ISS must be maintained, ensuring that a new crew arrives before they depart.

Trump & Musk’s Role in Accelerating the Mission

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has taken credit for prompting SpaceX’s expedited mission, claiming that he personally asked Musk to “go get” the astronauts after accusing the Biden administration of neglecting their return.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated:

“I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to ‘go get’ the two brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned by the Biden administration. They have been waiting many months on [the] Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!”

Musk quickly responded to Trump’s post, confirming that SpaceX would make their return a priority and that he found the astronauts’ prolonged stay unacceptable.

The incident has further fueled political tensions, with Trump and Musk placing blame on Biden, while NASA maintains that the delays were purely technical in nature.

New Crew Set to Replace Wilmore & Williams on the ISS

Before Wilmore and Williams can depart, a replacement crew must first arrive on the ISS to ensure ongoing scientific experiments and maintenance projects continue.

NASA has confirmed that the incoming Crew 10 mission will launch on March 12, 2025, bringing four new astronauts to the ISS:

• Anne McClain (NASA, USA)
• Nichole Ayers (NASA, USA)
• Takuya Onishi (JAXA, Japan)
• Kirill Peskov (Roscosmos, Russia)

Once Crew 10 arrives and completes a brief handover, Wilmore and Williams will finally return home after an unexpected 258-day mission—nearly nine times longer than originally planned.

Final Thoughts: SpaceX to the Rescue Yet Again

Elon Musk’s promise to return the stranded astronauts has once again placed SpaceX at the forefront of human spaceflight. With its advanced technology and proven track record of safe space missions, SpaceX has demonstrated its growing role in space travel and astronaut safety.

As Wilmore and Williams prepare to return, this mission will be a crucial test of SpaceX’s ability to handle emergency astronaut rescues, further solidifying its position as a leader in space exploration.

With March 19 fast approaching, all eyes are now on Musk and SpaceX to see if they can deliver on their promise and safely bring the astronauts home.