VIDEO - SpaceX rocket ends 9-month wait, delivers NASA crew

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from Florida on Friday, carrying a replacement crew for two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for the past nine months.

The launch marks the end of a prolonged delay for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose eight-day mission was extended due to technical difficulties.

The Crew-10 mission was originally scheduled to launch on Wednesday but was delayed due to a last-minute issue with the rocket’s ground systems.

Read more: NASA postpones mission as stranded ISS astronauts wait

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, resolved the problem by clearing a suspected air pocket from a hydraulic clamp arm. With the issue fixed and weather conditions 95 percent favorable, the rocket launched on Friday, bringing relief to those waiting for the astronauts' return.

The four-member replacement crew includes NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, both military pilots, along with Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, both former airline pilots.

The crew is expected to arrive at the ISS on Saturday night and will replace Wilmore and Williams, who have been on the ISS since June 2024. They will spend the next six months aboard the station.

Wilmore and Williams originally planned an eight-day mission, but their return was delayed due to issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

The delay has sparked political controversy, with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk alleging—without evidence—that the delay was politically motivated by President Joe Biden’s administration.

NASA clarified that the extended stay was necessary to maintain the ISS's staffing levels and that the Crew-10 mission was expedited to resolve the issue. Originally set for March 26, the mission was brought forward after SpaceX provided an alternative capsule for earlier readiness.

Trump and Musk's intervention placed additional pressure on NASA's safety and preparation processes, leading to adjustments in how flight safety is verified. NASA officials acknowledged "late-breaking" issues, including a fuel leak during a recent Falcon 9 launch and wear and tear on some Dragon crew capsule thrusters.

Despite these challenges, the successful launch marks a significant milestone in NASA and SpaceX’s ongoing space exploration efforts.