Sat Sep 28 17:58:39 UTC 2024: ## SpaceX Rocket Launches with Two Passengers, Leaving Seats Vacant for Stranded Astronauts
**Cape Canaveral, Florida** – A SpaceX rocket successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, carrying two passengers and leaving two empty seats for a crucial return mission.
The empty seats are reserved for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for several months. They were initially scheduled to return on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but the mission was deemed too risky after facing technical issues.
NASA typically rotates crews on the ISS every six months, but Williams and Wilmore have been in orbit for significantly longer due to delays. Their return flight will not be until late February, meaning they will have spent over eight months in space – far exceeding their initial one-week assignment.
This SpaceX mission is of significant importance as it aims to bring home the astronauts after their extended stay. The spacecraft is expected to return with Williams and Wilmore in the coming days.
First Piper 