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.
Read next
21:30
Peace Prospects
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about a potential full ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, stating that peace could soon be achieved. Trump's comments add to the growing international calls for de-escalation as the conflict continues to devastate the region.
21:00
FCC Investigation
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated an investigation into several major Chinese companies, including Huawei, ZTE, and China Telecom, to determine if they are circumventing U.S. sanctions and regulations designed to protect national security.
20:33
Tariff Update
Wall Street’s major indexes showed slight improvement on Friday after President Donald Trump suggested flexibility on upcoming tariffs, easing market concerns ahead of potential trade measures next month.
20:26
Boeing Victory
Boeing has won a $20 billion contract to build the F-47 fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force, marking a major boost for the company amid recent challenges.
20:24
Pentagon Meeting
Elon Musk's push to reform U.S. government spending reached new heights on Friday as he held an unprecedented meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, where discussions centered on innovation, efficiencies, and streamlining Pentagon operations.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment