Musk’s SpaceX Rescues Stranded Astronauts As NASA Relies On Private Sector Leadership

After months of uncertainty, two American astronauts who had been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) are finally set to return home. The mission, which SpaceX stepped in to carry out, highlights the stark difference between President Donald Trump’s space policies and Joe Biden’s lack of leadership in handling the situation.

SpaceX’s Crew-10 spacecraft docked with the ISS in the early hours of Sunday, delivering four new astronauts to take over the station’s duties. The relief crew consists of NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their arrival was met with warm greetings from the existing crew, who have been in orbit for nearly a year.

Commander McClain described the mission as an incredible experience. “Orbiting the Earth for the last couple of days has been absolutely incredible,” she said, adding that seeing the ISS from the capsule was a breathtaking moment.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams had been scheduled for a short stay after arriving in June 2024 on Boeing’s Starliner. However, the vehicle suffered a critical malfunction and was forced to return to Earth without them. With no immediate rescue plan from the Biden administration, the astronauts were left waiting for months while NASA scrambled to find a solution.

SpaceX ultimately took on the mission, an outcome made possible by policies enacted under President Donald Trump that prioritized private-sector innovation in spaceflight. The decision to rely on commercial partnerships proved crucial in addressing Boeing’s failure and ensuring a timely solution.

NASA has scheduled Crew-9’s return for March 18, with SpaceX’s Dragon capsule set to undock in the early morning hours. Splashdown is planned for later that evening, with weather conditions being monitored to determine the best recovery site.

The entire mission will be broadcast live by NASA, with updates provided on their official platforms.