Background

Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been on the International Space Station since June 2024. Their return was initially planned for mid-February but was delayed due to a battery issue with a new Dragon spacecraft.

Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, appeared on FOX News with President Donald Trump and claimed that the astronauts' return was held up by the Biden White House. Musk stated that SpaceX had offered to bring the astronauts home but was refused by the Biden administration for political reasons.

NASA's Response

NASA officials, including Ken Bowersox and Steve Stich, have disputed Musk's claims. They stated that the decision to delay the astronauts' return was made based on technical reasons, including the need to ensure the safety of the astronauts and the International Space Station.

Bowersox and Stich explained that NASA had considered various options for bringing the astronauts home, including using a SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle. However, they ultimately decided that the best option was to wait for the Crew 9 mission, which is scheduled to launch on March 12.

X-37B Spaceplane

In a separate development, the X-37B spaceplane has landed after completing a mission that demonstrated its ability to perform aerobraking maneuvers. The spaceplane, which is operated by the US Space Force, has the potential to be used for future military operations in space.

The X-37B's aerobraking maneuvers could find applications on future operational military satellites, according to Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of US Space Command. The spaceplane's ability to bridge multiple orbital regimes could unlock new operational concepts for the US military.