NASA Astronauts Set for Return After Crew Swap

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from Florida this Friday, carrying four astronauts to replace Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months. The new crew will facilitate a crew swap, allowing Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth next week, weather permitting. Initially scheduled for an eight-day mission, their return was delayed due to helium leaks and thruster failures on their Boeing Starliner capsule. NASA brought the Starliner back empty and planned a SpaceX return mission for February, but a capsule issue pushed the timeline to mid-March. This mission marks a critical step in resolving the prolonged delay and ensuring the astronauts’ safe return.