A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Expedition 72 astronauts lifts off from launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sept. 28, 2024.Photo by GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images

SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year

Officials said there wasn't a way to bring them back earlier on SpaceX without interrupting other scheduled missions

by · National Post

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX launched a rescue mission for the two stuck astronauts at the International Space Station on Saturday, sending up a downsized crew to bring them home but not until next year.

The capsule rocketed toward orbit to fetch the test pilots whose Boeing spacecraft returned to Earth empty earlier this month because of safety concerns. The switch in rides left it to NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov to retrieve Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

Stuck-in-space astronauts make first public comments since Boeing capsule left without themCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Stuck-in-space astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams said Friday they appreciated all the prayers and well wishes from strangers back home.Marcia Dunn, 14 Sep 2024Two astronauts are left behind in space as Boeing’s troubled capsule returns to Earth emptyBoeing’s first astronaut mission ended Friday night with an empty capsule landing and two test pilots still in space, left behind until next year because NASA judged their return too risky.Marcia Dunn, 07 Sep 2024