SpaceX readies launch to rescue two astronauts — here is how it played out

Elon Musk and SpaceX want to bring Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams, a pair of American astronauts who have been in space much longer than NASA originally planned, to return to Earth soon.

Musk said earlier in the week of Fox Business that his aerospace company will “recover them in a few weeks.”

In collaboration with NASA, SpaceX is scheduled for Wednesday night, launching the Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket from the US Space Agency's Kennedy Space Center, for a Crew 10 mission bound for the International Space Station, which is in orbit around 250 miles on Earth.

Its mission is expected to guide Willmore and Williams through the much-anticipated homecoming, transporting a four-person crew aimed at replacing the NASA crew currently on the ISS.

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The two astronauts have spent more than nine months at the International Space Station since their arrival on June 6th last year. NASA originally planned to last for Wilmore and Williams on the ISS only about a week.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have spent more than nine months at the International Space Station since their arrival on June 6th last year. NASA originally only lasted their time on the ISS for about a week. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP Getty Images / Getty Images)

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft transported a pair of astronauts from Earth to the ISS. However, in September, they returned to Earth unmanned.

When NASA announced in August that the spacecraft would return without Wilmore and Williams' boarding, the space agency said the unmanned return of the spacecraft would allow it, and Boeing said “will not accept any more risks than necessary for the crew while continuing to collect Starliner test data during upcoming flights,” Starliner said “helium Leaks,” “helium Leaks,” and “spacecraft will control it.”

The two astronauts have become part of the crew of the Expedition 71/72, saying NASA is aiming to return to Earth with two members of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in early 2025.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos Cosmonnault Alexander Golbunov arrived at the ISS in late September.

Hague, Wilmore and Williams conducted over 900 hours of research during their time at the ISS, NASA said late last week.

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According to the Space Agency, if the SpaceX Crew-10 launch begins as planned for Wednesday evening, its crew is expected to arrive at the ISS the following morning.

“Crew 10 will arrive in the last few days,” The Hague said last week from the ISS. “And we hand the baton to Crew 10. And we'll return to Earth at the end of our successful long-term mission at the space station.”

In a recent blog post, NASA said there will be a “handover period” with SpaceX crew 10 before Wilmore, Williams, The Hague and Golbunov left the ISS. Reports suggest that their planetary side's return could occur as early as Sunday.

According to the Space Agency, another SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft will take them back to Earth.

According to SpaceX, the start of Wednesday evening marks the Dragon's 10th Human SpaceFlight mission. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

NASA said while Crew-10 lives in the ISS, he will “take research, technology demonstrations and maintenance activities on the Microgravity Laboratory.”

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According to SpaceX, the start of Wednesday evening marks the Dragon's 10th Human SpaceFlight mission.

“Weather officials will carry more than 95% of the potential for favorable weather conditions at launch complex 39A to @Space_Station for lift-offs of @Spacex Falcon 9 Rocket and Dragon Spacecraft,” the Kennedy Space Center posted on X on Wednesday.

SpaceX's 27-foot-high dragon spaceship was built in rooms for up to seven passengers.