SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year

SpaceX launched a rescue mission for the two stuck astronauts at the International Space Station on Saturday, sending up a downsized crew to bring them home but not until next year.

The capsule rocketed toward orbit to fetch the test pilots whose Boeing spacecraft returned to Earth empty earlier this month because of safety concerns. The switch in rides left it to NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov to retrieve Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

Since NASA rotates space station crews approximately every six months, this newly launched flight with two empty seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams won’t return until late February. Officials said there wasn’t a way to bring them back earlier on SpaceX without interrupting other scheduled missions.

By the time they return, the pair will have logged more than eight months in space. They expected to be gone just a week when they signed up for Boeing’s first astronaut flight that launched in June.

NASA ultimately decided that Boeing’s Starliner was too risky after a cascade of thruster troubles and helium leaks marred its trip to the orbiting complex. The space agency cut two astronauts from this SpaceX launch to make room on the return leg for Wilmore and Williams.

Williams has since been promoted to commander of the space station, which will soon be back to its normal population of seven. Once Hague and Gorbunov arrive this weekend, four astronauts living there since March can leave in their own SpaceX capsule. Their homecoming was delayed a month by Starliner's turmoil.

Delayed by Hurricane Helene pounding Florida, the latest SpaceX liftoff marked the first for astronauts from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

[jtg]

Elon saving the world 2 astronauts at a time

[Shell_Michelle]

I don't care what you believe in I pray for those astronauts going up

[stilllake]

nasa about to have some funding cut for this shit lol

[WhiteArtsMagic]

wait... did they launch a rescue mission or are the astronauts stuck until next year?

[borgsimpson]

I called this, when i 1st heard they were stranded. I said Elon should rescue and bring them home safely.
What a kick in the nuts to. NASA
😂😂😂😂😂

[Chef-vgpu]

Like his politics or not the man’s brilliant, he finds the best people get the job done!

[leadsled]

I would've have sworn those two were stranded up there by themselves after listening to and reading other articles.

[ericktorres]

Tesla stock market about to explode if they succeed 😂

[terrimobley]

Yeah. Can't alter that schedule. SMH

[kyekyeK]

Funny that ROSCOSMOS just brought an American astronaut back to earth last week and they offered to bring these two as well but NASA refused because of pride. Since these 2 astronauts got stranded in space two Soyuz space shuttles have gone to the ISS and back. Boeing spent billions and over 10 years to develop the Starliner and yet it turned out it couldn't compete with the Soyuz space shuttle. It clearly tells you being overpriced is no guarantee for quality and efficiency.

[jimjones]

Government incompetence in full display.

[gailshaw]

😢😢😢they will be left there until the end of February 😢😮.

[priceless]

Russia saved 2 us astronauts last week

[AriseandShineSleepers]

Litterally there was an Emma Roberts movie like this

[TheMilka]

Youtube blocking comments as always...строим коммунизм урв

[ginolorenzo]

Isnt Hollywood propaganda absolutely amazing

[deanhall]

They went to the moon and played golf🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😅😅😅hey look.... A flying pig.

[Dexy]

It's too bad Elon is such an ass. This is super cool!

[robertdog]

DEI NASA couldn't explore a back yard without some sort of disaster.

[revolution]

Humor:
🧓At Boeing, we will get you there.!
Can't bring you back, but we will get you
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