President Donald Trump took to social media this week to announce he had directed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to “go get” two NASA astronauts who have been on a protracted stay at the International Space Station after their Boeing Starliner mission, which launched in June and was expected to last about eight days, ran into multiple technical issues.

"NASA and SpaceX are expeditiously working to safely return the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as soon as practical, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions," Cheryl Warner, NASA's news chief at the agency's headquarters, said in a statement to reporters.

Despite the statement from President Trump, NASA had already scheduled the astronauts' return for late March or April.

NASA affirmed on Wednesday a plan it set last year to work with Elon Musk's SpaceX in returning two astronauts from the International Space Station, saying it will do so "as soon as practical," the day after President Donald Trump suggested he wants a quicker return for the crew.

While Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s situation is unusual, their return trip will be pretty routine, as they were already slated to fly home on a SpaceX capsule as part of a scheduled crew rotation.

Amidst political tensions, President Trump criticized the Biden administration for leaving astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the ISS. Elon Musk has stepped in, stating SpaceX will bring them home,

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Elon Musk's company SpaceX will "soon" begin a mission to repatriate two American astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been aboard the ISS for over 8 months—far beyond their planned stay. Initially set to return via Boeing's Starliner, technical failures forced NASA to turn to SpaceX for their return.

Donald Trump has tasked billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring back stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station. For all the latest world news, analysis and updates,

Elon Musk took to X to state President Trump has asked for the quick return of two NASA astronauts who flew to space in June.

The president has claimed the previous administration abandoned the astronauts and has called on Elon Musk for aid.

Donald Trump asks Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring back stranded Nasa astronauts from International Space Station - US president says he has asked Elon Musk for help to return stranded astronauts ‘as soon