NASA launches SpaceX mission to replace ISS crew, bring back stranded astronauts

NASA is set to launch a SpaceX rocket from Florida on Wednesday, sending a replacement crew to the International Space Station (ISS) while preparing to bring home two U.S. astronauts stranded in space for nine months after Boeing’s Starliner faced technical issues.

NASA has advanced the timeline of the mission after U.S. President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk pushed for the early return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The two were originally scheduled to return in late March, but concerns over their prolonged stay led NASA to prioritize their retrieval.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying four astronauts—two from NASA, one from Japan, and one from Russia—is set to lift off from Kennedy Space Center at 7:48 p.m. ET (2348 GMT). Once the new crew arrives, Wilmore and Williams, along with two other ISS members, will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule attached to the station since September.

Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS in June as part of a test mission on Boeing’s Starliner, which encountered propulsion system failures, making it unsafe for their return. NASA’s decision to abandon the Starliner capsule for this return highlights Boeing’s ongoing struggles with the $4.5 billion Starliner program, which has been delayed by technical issues and cost overruns.

The return flight is expected on Sunday or Monday, marking the end of an unintended extended mission for Wilmore and Williams. Meanwhile, NASA continues to evaluate Boeing’s readiness for future missions as SpaceX remains the primary transport provider for ISS crews.

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