On October 1, 2024, a SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) to rescue two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded since June due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner.
The capsule launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. To accommodate Williams and Wilmore, originally part of a four-person crew, two astronauts were removed from the mission.
The Starliner experienced significant propulsion system failures, including helium leaks and thruster shutdowns, preventing its crew from returning safely. As a result, Williams and Wilmore's intended eight-day test flight has extended into an eight-month mission.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon is scheduled to return to Earth with Williams and Wilmore in February 2025, marking a critical moment in NASA's ongoing efforts to ensure safe crew rotations aboard the ISS.