A long-overdue return mission is finally underway for two NASA astronauts who have been stuck in orbit for nine months. After the Biden administration failed to act, SpaceX is leading the effort to bring them back to Earth.
Early Sunday morning, the SpaceX Crew-10 mission arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) with four astronauts who will replace the long-stranded crew. The arriving team includes NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their successful docking allowed the ISS crew to begin transition procedures.
🚨NASA ASTRONAUTS THANK ELON & TRUMP AHEAD OF SPACEX RESCUE
After 9 months stranded in space, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return home aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
Wilmore:
“All of us have the utmost respect for Mr Musk and obviously… https://t.co/cKeivzSXfU pic.twitter.com/QlcNpYJa2M
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 17, 2025
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams had been expected to return home shortly after their arrival in June, but a critical failure in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft left them stranded. The Starliner returned to Earth without them, and with no immediate rescue mission planned by the administration, they were left waiting for months.
Had it not been for SpaceX, which expanded its role in NASA missions under Trump’s leadership, their return might have been delayed even longer. The private space company had already developed the capability to handle such missions, stepping in where the government failed.
The meeting of Crew 9 & Crew 10 was more than just a moment-it was a promise. A promise that no dream is too far, no frontier too distant & no journey without a way home. Thanks to @Elonmusk & @SpaceX, hope now travels beyond the stars & the impossible is just the beginning. 🚀✨ pic.twitter.com/woG9mnk8bf
— Grace (@4verBeyou) March 17, 2025
NASA has confirmed that Wilmore, Williams, Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will begin their return journey on March 18. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule will carry them back, with splashdown set to take place off Florida’s coast.
The entire mission will be broadcast live by NASA, with officials monitoring weather and landing conditions to ensure a smooth recovery operation.
