ISTANBUL

SpaceX successfully launched its Crew-10 mission on Friday, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and paving the way for the return of two NASA astronauts stranded for months due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:03 p.m. local time (2303GMT) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov to the ISS.

The mission temporarily increases the ISS crew to 11 and will support new research aimed at advancing human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.

Critically, the launch also sets the stage for the long-awaited return of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck on the ISS since June 2024 due to technical problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Following a short handover period, Williams, Wilmore, and two other crew members are expected to return to Earth as early as Wednesday.

“This milestone demonstrates NASA’s continued commitment to advancing American leadership in space and driving growth in our national space economy,” said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, praising the launch.

The mission, originally planned for March 12, was delayed due to a hydraulic issue with ground support equipment.

The successful liftoff marks SpaceX’s 10th operational human spaceflight mission, further solidifying its role as a leader in commercial space travel.