Watch: SpaceX rescues stuck NASA astronauts with new crew arrival at ISS
Astronauts Williams and Wilmore have been stuck on the ISS since June 2024, when their Boeing Starliner encountered a litany of issues that prevented their return, originally planned for eight days after their arrival.
SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on March 16, 2025, at 12:05 a.m. EST. The arrival of the new crew paves the way for the long-awaited return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who have been stranded on the ISS since June 2024 due to issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
Wilmore and Williams welcomed the new crew after months in orbit, and the two stranded astronauts will soon begin their journey back to Earth.
SpaceX rescues stuck NASA astronauts
The Crew-10 capsule, launched from Florida on March 14, approached the ISS as Earth’s cloudy atmosphere rotated in the background—a breathtaking scene captured live on social media. The docking was met with cheers from SpaceX and NASA engineers on Earth.
Upon entering the ISS just before 2:00 a.m. EST, the new crew was warmly greeted by Wilmore and Williams. Smiles and embraces filled the space station as Williams snapped photos of her crewmates, one of whom humorously wore an alien mask.
NASA Astronaut Nick Hague wears a grey alien mask aboard the International Space Station as the crew awaits for SpaceX Crew-10 to dock. Photo: NASA.
New crew arrival at ISS
Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled to return to Earth just eight days after their arrival in June 2024. However, technical issues with the Boeing Starliner forced them to extend their stay. Their return was further delayed when plans to leave with Crew-9—comprising American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov—fell through due to the lack of an emergency escape pod for remaining ISS crew members.
The Crew-10 mission faced its own challenges. Initially scheduled for launch on March 12, the mission was postponed due to a technical issue with a ground support clamp arm on the rocket. Despite the delay, the team successfully reached the ISS, marking another milestone for SpaceX and NASA’s collaboration.
Now, Wilmore and Williams will finally return home alongside Crew-9 in the coming days. SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed their return plans in a social media post on March 15.