Biden Rejected Musk’s SpaceX Offer To Rescue Astronauts Stuck On ISS

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, expected to spend just over a week in space last summer, instead found themselves trapped aboard the International Space Station for nearly 10 months. Their return was delayed due to technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but according to Elon Musk, the extended stay didn’t have to happen.

Musk revealed on Fox News that SpaceX had offered months ago to bring the astronauts back safely but was turned down by the Biden administration for what he described as “political reasons.” During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Musk explained that SpaceX could have conducted the rescue far earlier.

Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024, but were left stranded after multiple helium leaks and thruster failures rendered the spacecraft unsafe for return. Despite the mounting delays, the Biden administration refused Musk’s offer to use a SpaceX capsule to retrieve them.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation earlier this year, stating that the Biden administration had “virtually abandoned” the astronauts and instructing Musk to “go get” them. Musk later thanked Trump for stepping in, crediting him with prioritizing the return mission.

SpaceX ultimately partnered with NASA to return the astronauts safely, and on Tuesday, Wilmore and Williams splashed down off Florida’s coast alongside Crew-9 Commander Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

NASA’s Joel Montalbano declined to address Musk’s claims directly, saying only that the agency acted under the current administration’s direction.