NASA's Crew-10 Mission: SpaceX to the Rescue

NASA is launching a SpaceX rocket to retrieve astronauts from the ISS after being stranded due to Boeing's Starliner issues. This mission, advanced by political intervention from Trump and Musk, will bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth after nine months in space.

NASA is preparing to launch a SpaceX rocket from Florida on Wednesday to retrieve a replacement crew for the International Space Station. This mission will finally bring back U.S. astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, marooned in space for nine months following a troubled trip on Boeing's Starliner.

The mission, originally set for a later date, was expedited after President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk called for an earlier return of the astronauts. The SpaceX rocket will depart from Kennedy Space Center, carrying two U.S. astronauts and one each from Japan and Russia, at 7:48 p.m. ET.

Wilmore and Williams, both experienced astronauts and U.S. Navy test pilots, have continued their duties aboard the ISS, looking forward to reuniting with family upon their return. Their extended stay results from engineering issues with Boeing's Starliner, shifting reliance on SpaceX's Crew Dragon for returning the team.

(With inputs from agencies.)