A long-overdue rescue mission is finally underway as two NASA astronauts prepare to return home after nine months stuck aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Biden administration failed to act on the situation, leaving private industry to take the lead.
On Sunday, SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission successfully reached the ISS, replacing the current crew with a new team. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, arrived in the Dragon capsule, marking the end of an unexpectedly extended stay for some of the station’s occupants.
🚨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 on the ISS since last June. They arrived aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was meant to bring them back after a short mission. Instead, technical problems forced the vehicle to return without them, leaving them stuck in orbit without a clear return plan.
Despite the urgency, the Biden administration took no meaningful steps to resolve the issue. The rescue mission was only made possible after SpaceX, benefiting from commercial space policies put in place under President Donald Trump, stepped in to complete the operation.
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 now scheduled the return of Wilmore, Williams, Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule is set to undock from the ISS on March 18 before making its descent and splashing down off Florida’s coast.
NASA will provide live updates on the mission, with coverage available through its digital platforms. Weather conditions and mission progress will continue to be monitored leading up to the scheduled landing.
