SpaceX Crew-10 Nears ISS Docking, Enabling Return of Stranded Astronauts

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams prepare for their return to Earth after an extended nine-month stay caused by Boeing Starliner issues.

SpaceX Crew-10, carrying four astronauts, is set to dock with the International Space Station early Sunday to facilitate a crew swap.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been on the ISS since June 2024 after propulsion issues grounded their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
The Crew-9 spacecraft, which arrived last September with two empty seats, will return Wilmore and Williams to Earth alongside two other astronauts.
NASA has adjusted the handover period between crews to two days, with the return targeted for no earlier than Wednesday, March 19, depending on weather conditions.
The extended stay of Wilmore and Williams highlights both technical challenges in spaceflight and the adaptability required for long-duration missions.