The White House confirmed on Wednesday that President Donald Trump successfully fulfilled his promise to rescue two astronauts who had been stranded in space for nine months. The crew safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, expressing gratitude to SpaceX, NASA, and Elon Musk for their efforts.
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore spent an unexpected 286 days in space, extending their mission by 278 days. During their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), they completed 4,576 orbits around Earth and traveled an astonishing 121 million miles (195 million kilometers) before returning home.
Celebrating the achievement, the White House posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to @ElonMusk, @SpaceX, and @NASA!”
Trump Directs Elon Musk and SpaceX to Act
On January 28, 2025, President Trump announced that he had instructed Elon Musk and SpaceX to retrieve the two astronauts from the ISS.
Sharing the directive on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to ‘go get’ the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!”
Williams and Wilmore had remained aboard the ISS since June 2024. However, SpaceX had already planned their return for late March 2025.
Successful Splashdown Near Florida
The rescue mission concluded smoothly as Williams and Wilmore, along with American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, landed safely in the ocean near Florida at 5:57 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Crew-10, a new four-member team, arrived at the ISS on Sunday aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. They took over operations, officially replacing Williams and Wilmore.
Shortly after landing, SpaceX Mission Control in California welcomed the returning astronauts, saying:
“On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home.”
Commander Nick Hague responded enthusiastically from the capsule:
“What a ride.”
NASA Conducts Health Evaluations
Following the splashdown, NASA transported the astronauts to Johnson Space Center in Houston for standard post-mission health assessments. Over the next few days, medical professionals will monitor their well-being before clearing them for reunions with their families.
By successfully bringing the astronauts home, Trump delivered on his promise, while SpaceX, NASA, and Elon Musk played a crucial role in ensuring their safe return.
