SpaceX has successfully launched a rescue mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to bring back two stranded astronauts.
The mission was delayed earlier this week due to a technical issue with the rocket’s launch platform, but after resolving the problem, the launch proceeded smoothly.
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:03 PM local time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying four astronauts who will replace NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the ISS for months.
Wilmore and Williams were the first crew to fly Boeing’s Starliner capsule to the ISS in June 2024. However, propulsion system issues on the Starliner forced an extended stay, as NASA deemed a return trip too risky. Instead, the capsule was sent back to Earth empty in September.
Mission Crew-10: A Routine Launch with a Critical Objective
While Crew-10’s mission was initially planned as a routine crew rotation, it has become a crucial step in bringing Wilmore and Williams back home.
They are set to depart the ISS on March 19 after the Crew-10 team arrives on Saturday night.
Political Controversy Over the Stranded Astronauts
The mission has also become entangled in political controversy, with former U.S. President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk alleging, without evidence, that former President Joe Biden deliberately left the astronauts stranded for political reasons.
Wilmore dismissed such claims, stating:
“We came prepared to stay for a long time, even though we planned for a short mission.”
He emphasized that NASA’s decision to keep them on the ISS until Crew-10’s arrival was not politically motivated, but rather a part of standard spaceflight contingency planning.
“This is the core of the human spaceflight program,” he said. “Planning for unknown and unexpected situations—this is what we do.”
NASA’s Justification for Extending the Astronauts’ Stay
NASA clarified that Wilmore and Williams had to remain aboard the ISS to maintain minimum staffing levels.
During their extended stay, they have been conducting scientific research and performing routine maintenance alongside other astronauts.
With Crew-10 now en route, Wilmore and Williams’ extended space journey is finally coming to an end, marking a significant milestone in NASA’s partnership with SpaceX and ensuring the safety of future space missions.
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