WATCH: SpaceX launches a new crew to the space station to replace NASA's stuck astronauts

Wednesday’s launch attempt was called off after concerns over a critical hydraulic system popped up less than four hours before planned liftoff.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — The replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts launched to the International Space Station on Friday night, paving the way for the pair’s return after nine long months.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams need SpaceX to get this relief team to the space station before they can check out. Arrival is set for late Saturday night.

NASA wants overlap between the two crews so Wilmore and Williams can fill in the newcomers on happenings aboard the orbiting lab. That would put them on course for an undocking next week and a splashdown off the Florida coast, weather permitting.

The duo will be escorted back by astronauts who flew up on a rescue mission on SpaceX last September alongside two empty seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams on the return leg.

Rocketing toward orbit from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the newest crew includes NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, both military pilots; and Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, both former airline pilots. They will spend the next six months at the space station, considered the normal stint, after springing Wilmore and Williams free.

As test pilots for Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week or so when they launched from Cape Canaveral on June 5. A series of helium leaks and thruster failures marred their trip to the space station, setting off months of investigation by NASA and Boeing on how best to proceed.

Eventually ruling it unsafe, NASA ordered Starliner to fly back empty last September and moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight due back in February. Their return was further delayed when SpaceX’s brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs before launching their replacements. To save a few weeks, SpaceX switched to a used capsule, moving up Wilmore and Williams’ homecoming to mid-March.

Already capturing the world’s attention, their unexpectedly long mission took a political twist when President Donald Trump and SpaceX’s Elon Musk vowed earlier this year to accelerate the astronauts’ return and blamed the former administration for stalling it.

Retired Navy captains who have lived at the space station before, Wilmore and Williams have repeatedly stressed that they support the decisions made by their NASA bosses since last summer. The two helped keep the station running — fixing a broken toilet, watering plants and conducting experiments — and even went out on a spacewalk together. With nine spacewalks, Williams set a new record for women: the most time spent spacewalking over a career.

A last-minute hydraulics issue delayed Wednesday’s initial launch attempt. Concern arose over one of the two clamp arms on the Falcon rocket’s support structure that needs to tilt away right before liftoff. SpaceX later flushed out the arm’s hydraulics system, removing trapped air.


The duo’s extended stay has been hardest, they said, on their families — Wilmore’s wife and two daughters, and Williams’ husband and mother. Besides reuniting with them, Wilmore, a church elder, is looking forward to getting back to face-to-face ministering and Williams can’t wait to walk her two Labrador retrievers.

“We appreciate all the love and support from everybody,” Williams said in an interview earlier this week. “This mission has brought a little attention. There’s goods and bads to that. But I think the good part is more and more people have been interested in what we’re doing” with space exploration.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


You May Also Like

Audience expresses disapproval at JD Vance performance at Kennedy Center

The vice president, along with his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, was…

Akron NAACP expresses worry about alterations to school board’s policy on racial fairness

The U.S. Department of Education cautioned educational institutions about the potential consequences…

Man prohibited from boarding United flights after assaulting a gate agent at Dulles Airport

A Frederick man punched a gate agent at Dulles, leading to his…

Over 50 universities are under federal scrutiny due to Trump’s efforts against diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Many new inquiries are primarily about forming partnerships with the PhD Project,…

New SpaceX Crew Launched to Replace NASA Astronauts Stranded at Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The launch of replacements for NASA’s two astronauts…

Michigan judge’s plan for Walmart shoplifters to clean cars was blocked by his superior.

DETROIT – A Michigan judge has thrown cold water on a plan…

Asian stock market goes up despite Wall Street drop, as China promises to increase consumer spending.

BANGKOK – Asian markets continued to rise on Friday, unfazed by the…

Driver detained for suspected intoxication following North Austin accident that resulted in 5 fatalities and 11 injuries

Multiple adults, children and an infant were involved in the collision late…

Pi Day 2025 Celebration at Mama Jo Homestyle Pies in Amherst

Mama Jo Homestyle Pies has 36 different flavors of pie in three…

Thornton police seek assistance in solving double homicide from February

THORNTON, Colo. — The Thornton Police Department is asking for help in…

Arson caused fire near Garden of the Gods on Thursday, suspect apprehended

Update as of 10:05 p.m. The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has…

Orlando group eager to pursue MLB team after Rays’ stadium plans collapse

The Orlando Dreamers, led by MLB Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, have…