In a post on X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk alleged on Tuesday that the Biden administration had left two astronauts “stranded” in space and claimed that former President Donald Trump had requested SpaceX’s assistance in bringing them back.

However, NASA had already planned for their return months ago, assigning SpaceX the task of bringing astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore home as part of its Crew-9 mission. That mission was delayed in December when NASA stated that additional time was needed to prepare a new SpaceX vehicle.

Musk’s post read, “The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”

Trump echoed this sentiment on Truth Social, stating, “The 2 brave astronauts have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration,” adding that they had been “waiting for many months on @Space_Station.” He expressed confidence in Musk, saying, “Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe.”

When asked for clarification, NASA reiterated its commitment to safely returning the Crew-9 astronauts, stating that their return would happen “as soon as practical.” It remains unclear whether NASA will alter its current return schedule in response to Trump’s comments.

Both SpaceX and the White House declined to provide immediate responses to inquiries.

While Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay is unusual—given that they were originally supposed to return on Boeing’s Starliner—their return journey remains relatively routine. They will travel back to Earth with other astronauts as part of a scheduled crew rotation.

The Starliner spacecraft, which transported them to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024, encountered multiple technical issues, including helium leaks and propulsion problems. NASA ultimately deemed it unsafe for a crewed return and, in August, formally requested that SpaceX facilitate their journey home via Crew-9. Williams and Wilmore have since become official members of the ISS staff as they await their return.

Return Timeline

NASA initially projected a February return for Crew-9 but later adjusted the timeline in December, citing the need to complete preparations for the Crew-10 mission. Following NASA’s standard protocol, Crew-10 must launch before Crew-9 departs. Currently, Crew-9 is expected to return no earlier than late March.

NASA officials have emphasized that Crew-9’s departure must be coordinated with Crew-10’s arrival to ensure operational continuity aboard the ISS. If Crew-9 were to leave prematurely, only one astronaut, Don Pettit—who traveled to the ISS via a Russian Soyuz vehicle—would remain to manage the US-controlled section of the station.

Former NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reinforced this plan in a statement , explaining, “SpaceX will bring Butch and Suni back on a Dragon spacecraft as Crew-9 on a regular rotation after Crew-10 has arrived. The handover between crews is essential for maintaining ISS operations and ensuring astronaut safety.”

Astronauts’ Perspective

Despite the extended mission, Williams and Wilmore appear to be in good spirits. During a January 8 interview from the ISS, Wilmore reassured that they were well-provisioned, saying, “We have plenty of clothes. We are well fed.”

Williams added, “It’s just a great team, and no, it doesn’t feel like we’re castaways. Eventually, we want to go home because we left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do while we’re up here.”

Williams recently conducted a spacewalk, and both astronauts are scheduled for another extravehicular activity on Thursday.

Safety Over Speed

NASA and Boeing officials have repeatedly stated that Williams and Wilmore were never truly stranded. Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, explained last year that the astronauts always had a return option—either through Starliner in an emergency or via the Crew-9 spacecraft upon its arrival.

“In my view, they’re never stuck or stranded,” Stich noted. “They always had a way to depart the space station.”

Nelson further emphasized that NASA’s decision to extend their stay was based entirely on safety concerns. While Boeing believed Starliner was safe for the return journey, NASA unanimously ruled against it, prioritizing astronaut safety over a quicker return.

What’s Next?

Williams and Wilmore, alongside Crew-9 colleagues Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, arrived at the ISS in September. Their mission has now surpassed seven months, and if they return as scheduled in late March or early April, they will have spent roughly nine months in space.

Although routine ISS missions typically last six months, longer stays are not uncommon. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, for instance, set a U.S. record with a 371-day stay on the ISS in 2023.

For now, Williams and Wilmore continue their work aboard the station while awaiting their return, which, despite political rhetoric, remains aligned with NASA’s carefully planned schedule.