NASA and SpaceX successfully launched a long-awaited crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, paving the way for the return of American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded in orbit for nine months. The Crew-10 mission lifted off at 7:03 p.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It carried four astronauts who will replace Wilmore and Williams, both seasoned NASA astronauts and retired U.S. Navy test pilots. The two had traveled to the ISS in June aboard Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule.

While Friday’s launch was primarily a routine crew rotation, it was also the first major step in NASA’s plan to bring Wilmore and Williams home. Their return has gained urgency in recent months, particularly with pressure from former President Donald Trump. At the time of the launch, Wilmore and Williams were asleep in their scheduled routine aboard the ISS, according to Dina Contella, NASA’s ISS deputy program manager. Once the Crew-10 team arrives at the ISS on Saturday night, Wilmore and Williams are set to depart early Wednesday morning, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The Crew-10 team, set to stay on the ISS for about six months, includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.

A Mission Entangled in Politics: hortly after reaching orbit, mission commander Anne McClain introduced a plush origami crane as the mission’s microgravity indicator, symbolizing peace, hope, and healing. She emphasized the importance of strong leadership and international cooperation in space exploration, stating, “It is far easier to be enemies than to be friends, but spaceflight depends on building partnerships and relationships for the benefit of all.”

The Crew-10 mission became politically charged when Trump and his adviser, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, criticized the delay in Wilmore and Williams’ return, alleging—without evidence—that the Biden administration had abandoned them for political reasons. Wilmore, however, dismissed these claims earlier this month, stating that NASA had always planned for contingencies in space missions. "We came prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short," he said.

NASA clarified that Wilmore and Williams had to remain on the ISS to maintain crew numbers and that launching a dedicated rescue mission wasn’t feasible due to budget and operational constraints. Instead, their return was incorporated into the normal crew rotation process, during which they continued conducting

scientific research and station maintenance. Looking forward to her return, Williams said she was eager to reunite with her family and two dogs. "It’s been a rollercoaster for them—maybe even more so than for us," she shared.

Challenges and Adjustments: The Crew-10 mission was originally scheduled for March 26 but was moved up after Trump and Musk called for a faster return for Wilmore and Williams. NASA ultimately swapped out a delayed SpaceX capsule for one that could launch sooner. NASA officials acknowledged the mission had an "unusual flow" compared to standard launches.

They had to resolve last-minute issues, including a fuel leak on a recent Falcon 9 launch and concerns about the wear and tear on the Dragon capsule’s thrusters. Despite these challenges, NASA space operations chief Ken Bowersox emphasized that the agency worked well with SpaceX. "They move fast—we’re not quite as agile, but we’re keeping up," he said.With Crew-10 now en route to the ISS, Wilmore and Williams’ long-awaited return is finally in sight.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.