Mon Sep 30 03:17:35 UTC 2024: ## SpaceX Capsule Rescues Stranded Astronauts at International Space Station
**Cape Canaveral, Florida** – Two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) since June were finally rescued on Sunday with the arrival of a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The capsule, launched from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, carried two fresh astronauts and two empty seats reserved for Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who will return to Earth next year.
The docking occurred in darkness high above Botswana, as the two spacecraft soared 420 kilometers above Earth. The rescue mission was initiated after concerns arose over the safety of the Boeing Starliner capsule, originally scheduled to bring Wilmore and Williams back. The Starliner’s first crewed test flight was marred by thruster failures and helium leaks, prompting NASA to deem it unsafe for crew return.
The Dragon capsule, carrying NASA’s Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agency’s Aleksandr Gorbunov, will remain docked at the ISS until February, extending what should have been a week-long trip for Wilmore and Williams into a mission lasting over eight months.
To accommodate the unexpected rescue mission, two NASA astronauts were pulled from the mission originally scheduled to replace Wilmore and Williams. NASA typically rotates its station crews every six months.
SpaceX has become the primary provider of transportation to the ISS since their first astronaut flight in 2020. Boeing was also contracted for similar flights, but software flaws and other issues with the Starliner have led to years of delays and millions in repair costs.
While investigations into the Starliner issues continue, NASA maintains that the company remains a viable partner. “We’re a long way from saying, ‘Hey, we’re writing off Boeing,'” said NASA’s associate administrator Jim Free.
Meanwhile, the four astronauts who have been at the ISS since March can now return to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule in just over a week. Their stay was extended a month due to the Starliner issues.
Although Saturday’s launch went smoothly, SpaceX revealed that the rocket’s spent upper stage ended up outside its targeted impact zone in the Pacific due to a failed engine firing. The company has halted all Falcon launches until they determine the cause of the malfunction.
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