SpaceX launches crew to space ahead of astronauts' return from orbit VIDEO

SpaceX successfully launched a crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday evening, marking a pivotal moment in a closely watched mission to facilitate the return of two astronauts marooned in orbit.

The launch, which took place at 7:00 p.m. New York time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, set the stage for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to finally return home after a prolonged stay aboard the space station, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The mission was carried out aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which was topped with the Crew Dragon capsule. The launch proceeded smoothly, and approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the capsule detached from the upper stage of the rocket. SpaceX confirmed that the crew was en route to the ISS, with docking expected around 11:30 p.m. on March 15.

Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage pic.twitter.com/h3Mf9Q3s81

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2025

The Crew-10 mission crew consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their primary mission is to replace the current crew aboard the ISS, including Wilmore and Williams, who have been in space for nearly nine months.

As part of NASA’s ongoing efforts to maintain a continuous presence on the ISS, the Crew-10 astronauts will undergo a two-day handover process before they can relieve the current crew. This transition will allow Wilmore and Williams to board an already docked SpaceX capsule and return to Earth, with their earliest possible return slated for March 19.

Wilmore and Williams initially arrived at the ISS in June aboard a Boeing Co. Starliner spacecraft. However, due to technical issues during the spacecraft’s journey, NASA deemed it too risky to return the astronauts on the same craft. As a result, their stay on the ISS was extended, and they will now return on a SpaceX vehicle.

Their return, which has garnered widespread attention, has sparked concern and support from notable figures such as President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The Crew-10 astronauts are expected to remain aboard the ISS until the fall, where they will conduct a variety of scientific experiments, including research on lunar navigation, material flammability, and the effects of space travel on the human body.

By Vafa Guliyeva