NASA and Elon Musks SpaceX launched a long-awaited crew mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck in space for over nine months after technical issues in their Starliner capsule.

The arrival of SpaceX Crew-10 at the International Space Station (ISS) on March 16, 2025, marked another significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between private spaceflight and international space exploration.

This event, occurring at approximately 12:04 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), represented the meticulously planned mission, showcasing the advancements in space technology and the dedication of the international team involved.

The Crew-10 mission, launched by SpaceX, utilized the Crew Dragon spacecraft, a reusable vehicle designed to transport astronauts to and from the ISS.  The Crew Dragon’s ability to autonomously dock with the ISS highlights the precision and reliability of modern space systems, reducing the reliance on manual control and enhancing mission safety.

SpaceX’9 Falcon rocket lifted off from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14 carrying four astronauts who will replace Wilmore and Williams. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS on Sunday and the hatch was opened shortly after the spacecraft conducted standard leak checks and pressurization.

The stranded astronauts Williams and Wilmore would be replaced by four astronauts who boarded SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket Cosmonaut Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos of Russia, Pilot Nichole Ayers and Commander Anne McClain of US, and Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi of Japans JAXA.

The old crew welcomed the Crew-10 astronauts who will take their place at the space station.

Williams and Wilmore are scheduled to depart on Wednesday as early as 4 am ET (1:30 pm IST) and make their way back to Earth after their trip to space, which was initially meant for only eight days, stretched on for over nine months.