SpaceX capsule arrives at space station to save NASA astronauts stranded by Boeing's Starliner

The two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station since June welcomed their new ride home with the arrival of a SpaceX capsule on Sunday.

SpaceX launched the rescue mission one day earlier on Saturday with a downsized crew of two astronauts and two empty seats reserved for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who will return next year. 

The Dragon capsule docked in darkness as the two craft soared 265 miles above Botswana. 

NASA switched Wilmore and Williams to SpaceX following concerns over the safety of their Boeing Starliner capsule. 

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida 

In this image made from a NASA livestream, the two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station since June 2024, Butch Wilmore, far left, and Suni Williams, far right, welcome two new residents who flew up on SpaceX

It was the first Starliner test flight with a crew, and NASA decided the thruster failures and helium leaks that cropped up after liftoff were too serious and poorly understood to risk the test pilots return. 

So Starliner returned to Earth empty earlier this month.  

The Dragon carrying NASAs Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agencys Alexander Gorbunov will remain at the space station until February, turning what should have been a weeklong trip for Wilmore and Williams into a mission lasting more than eight months.

Two NASA astronauts were pulled from the mission to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return leg.

I just want to say welcome to our new compadres, Williams, the space station commander, said once Hague and Gorbunov floated inside and were embraced by the nine astronauts awaiting them.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen blazing through the sky into space following blast off

SpaceX capsule Dragon approaches the International Space Station on Sunday

Russian Space Agencys Alexander Gorbunov enters the International Space Station from the SpaceX capsule Dragon

In blue suits, NASAs Nick Hague, left, and the Russian Space Agencys Alexander Gorbunov enter the International Space Station from the SpaceX capsule Dragon

Hague said it was a smooth flight up. Coming through the hatch and seeing all the smiles, and as much as Ive laughed and cried in the last 10 minutes, I know its going to be an amazing expedition, he said.

NASA likes to replace its station crews every six months or so. 

SpaceX has provided the taxi service since the companys first astronaut flight in 2020. 

NASA also hired Boeing for ferry flights after the space shuttles were retired, but flawed software and other Starliner issues led to years of delays and more than $1 billion in repairs.

Starliner inspections are underway at NASAs Kennedy Space Center, with post-flight reviews of data set to begin this week.

Were a long way from saying, "Hey, were writing off Boeing," NASAs associate administrator Jim Free said at a pre-launch briefing.

SpaceX capsule Dragon carries NASAs Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agencys Alexander Gorbunov to dock at the International Space Station

The arrival of two fresh astronauts means the four who have been up there since March can now return to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule in just over a week, bringing the stations crew size back down to the normal seven. 

Their stay was extended a month because of the Starliner turmoil.

Although Saturdays liftoff went well, SpaceX said the rockets spent upper stage ended up outside its targeted impact zone in the Pacific because of a bad engine firing. 

The company has halted all Falcon launches until it figures out what went wrong was extended a month because of the Starliner turmoil.