A SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) to retrieve two stranded astronauts. The docking occurred at 5:30 PM Eastern Time, marking a significant moment in space exploration.
The capsule is set to transport NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth. The duo had initially arrived at the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June for an eight-day mission but were unable to return due to technical issues encountered during the flight. Their return to Earth is now scheduled for February.
The Dragon capsule launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. Following their arrival, Hague and Gorbunov will be integrated into the ISS crew before they take Wilmore and Williams home.
The original launch was postponed from Thursday due to Hurricane Helene, which inflicted extensive damage across southeastern U.S. states, including Florida. The docking took place while the ISS was positioned 265 miles (426 km) above Botswana.
Inside the ISS, footage revealed Hague and Gorbunov happily interacting with fellow crew members following their arrival. The initial Starliner mission, which commenced on June 5, was a test flight that faced multiple technical hurdles, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions.
NASA, after months of investigation alongside Boeing engineers, determined in late August that it was unsafe for Wilmore and Williams to return on the Starliner. The Starliner capsule has experienced significant delays throughout its development and following uncrewed test flights.
Since the retirement of the space shuttle fleet in 2011, NASA has depended on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft for transport to the ISS, emphasizing the importance of American companies in this vital area of spaceflight. Boeing and SpaceX received contracts in 2014 worth $4.2 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, to contribute to these missions. Notably, SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, became the first private company to successfully transport astronauts to the ISS in 2020.
