NASA is preparing for the return of its Crew-9 astronauts after SpaceX successfully sent a relief mission to the International Space Station (ISS), rescuing two American astronauts stranded in orbit for nine months. While the Biden administration failed to act, Elon Musk’s SpaceX stepped in to ensure their safe return.
On March 16, the SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon capsule docked at the ISS, carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The relief crew was welcomed warmly by the ISS occupants, with hugs and smiles exchanged between the newly arrived astronauts and those who had been awaiting their return to Earth.
🚨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
McClain, the mission commander, described the moment as unforgettable. “I cannot tell you the immense joy of our crew when we looked out the window and saw the space station for the first time,” she said. The mission, which took roughly 28 hours from launch to docking, brought an end to the prolonged wait for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, whose original Boeing Starliner mission was cut short due to technical failures.
Wilmore and Williams were supposed to spend just 10 days on the ISS after arriving in June 2024. However, their Boeing-built spacecraft suffered serious issues and was forced to return to Earth without them, leaving the astronauts stuck in space for far longer than planned. With no immediate solution from the Biden administration or NASA, SpaceX took on the critical mission to replace the stranded astronauts and bring them home.
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 and SpaceX mission managers have scheduled the Crew-9 return for March 18, with live coverage beginning at 10:45 p.m. Eastern on NASA’s streaming platforms. Hatch closure, undocking, and reentry procedures will be closely monitored to ensure a safe return off Florida’s coast. NASA is coordinating with SpaceX to confirm weather conditions and splashdown locations before finalizing the reentry sequence.
The relief mission highlights the growing role of private companies in space exploration as SpaceX continues to outperform government-run operations. With Boeing’s Starliner failing to complete its mission, SpaceX has once again proven itself to be the more reliable partner for NASA’s crewed missions.
