SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has reiterated his claim that the Biden administration rejected his offer to send a Dragon capsule to bring back NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station.
Musk stated, “SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and completed the mission 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it.” He reiterated that the delay was unnecessary and could have been avoided.
The astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2025
SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it.
President Trump asked to bring them back as… https://t.co/BVsHRn2Ocf
The billionaire entrepreneur further claimed that former President Donald Trump had asked him to act swiftly. “Trump asked me to bring them back as soon as possible, and I am doing so,” Musk posted on social media.
Musk’s remarks have reignited debates about government control over private space missions, with critics questioning the rationale behind the alleged rejection.
Why Are NASA Astronauts Stuck in Space?
Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024, making its long-awaited crew debut after years of development delays. However, the spacecraft encountered multiple technical issues on its way to the ISS, prompting NASA to deem it unsafe for the return journey. As a result, the astronauts have remained aboard the ISS for months longer than planned.
Now, NASA is preparing for their long-awaited return, which has been moved up by a few weeks due to a change in SpaceX capsules. However, they must wait for their replacements to arrive at the ISS next week before they can check out later this month.
Both Musk and Trump have criticized the previous administration for delaying their return, adding a political dimension to what is already one of NASA’s most challenging space missions.