Just over a day after launching, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, bringing fresh faces to the orbiting lab. The four new astronauts—representing the U.S., Japan, and Russia—are set to replace NASA’s two astronauts who have been unexpectedly stuck in space since last June.
The newcomers will spend the next few days learning the ropes from Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the NASA astronauts who’ve been awaiting their return trip. Wilmore and Williams initially anticipated a quick one-week mission when they launched on Boeing’s first astronaut flight. However, due to unforeseen issues, they’ve been in space for over nine months.
The delay began when the Boeing Starliner capsule experienced multiple problems, prompting NASA to bring it back to Earth empty. This left Wilmore and Williams awaiting a ride home. While preparing for the new crew’s arrival, the station residents shared a lighthearted moment when Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner donned an alien mask.
Wilmore opened the station’s hatch, ringing the ship’s bell as the new crew floated in to warm hugs and handshakes. "It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive," Williams told Mission Control.
The returning astronauts’ ride had arrived at the ISS back in late September with two crew members and two empty seats reserved for the journey home. Further delays occurred when their replacements’ new capsule required extensive battery repairs. An older capsule was substituted, pushing their return to mid-March.
If weather permits, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams, and two other astronauts will undock from the ISS early Tuesday, aiming to splash down off Florida’s coast later that evening. Until then, the ISS will be bustling with 11 crew members from the U.S., Russia, and Japan.
