https://apnews.com/video/replacements-for-nasas-two-stranded-astronauts-enter-the-iss-45033edafd38440599ff458a7858d253

Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts.

A spacecraft carrying the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts docked at the International Space Station on Sunday, paving the way for the pair’s return after nine long months.

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts Don Pettit, bottom center, hugging Kirill Peskov as astronauts greet each other after a SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts greeting each other after a SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. Top row from left: Nick Hague, Alexander Gorbunov, Suni Williams, Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. Bottom row from left: Butch Wilmore, Takuya Onishi, Anne McClain, Kirill Peskov, Nichole Ayers and Don Pettit.

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts, including Nichole Ayers, center left, greeting each other after a SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts, including Suni Williams, center, greeting each other after a SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

This image made from video by NASA shows Russian astronaut Alexei Ovchinin, left, Butch Wilmore, center, and Suni Williams wait to greet newly arrived astronauts after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

 

REMOVES REFERENCE TO NICK HAGUE – This image provided by NASA shows one of space station astronauts wearing a grey alien mask before greeting the crew of the arriving SpaceX Dragon Capsule at the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

This image made from video by NASA shows the docking of the SpaceX capsule to the International Space Station Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

This image made from video by NASA shows a SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts on final approach to the International Space Station before docking on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

This image made from video by NASA shows the International Space Station as the SpaceX capsule closes in for docking, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

Crew10 members, from left, cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, astronaut Nichole Ayers, astronaut Anne McClain and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi leave the Operations and Checkout building before heading to Launch Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for a mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)Read More

By  MARCIA DUNNUpdated 8:39 PM GMT-3, March 16, 2025Share

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts.

The four newcomers — representing the U.S., Japan and Russia — will spend some time learning the station’s ins and outs from Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Then the two will strap into their own SpaceX capsule later this week, one that has been up there since last year, to close out an unexpected extended mission that began last June.

0:00 / 45

AP AUDIO: NASA’s stuck astronauts welcome their newly arrived replacements to the space station

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports NASA’s stuck astronauts welcome their newly arrived replacements to the space station.

Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week when they launched on Boeing’s first astronaut flight. They hit the nine-month mark earlier this month.

The Boeing Starliner capsule encountered so many problems that NASA insisted it come back empty, leaving its test pilots behind to wait for a SpaceX lift.

While the seven space station residents prepared for the new arrivals, one of the Russians — Ivan Vagner — briefly put on an alien mask in a lighthearted moment. Wilmore swung open the space station’s hatch and rang the ship’s bell as the new crew floated in one by one and were greeted with hugs and handshakes..

“It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams told Mission Control.

RELATED COVERAGE

Who are the NASA astronauts who have been stuck in space for 9 months?

SpaceX launches a new crew to the space station to replace NASA’s stuck astronauts

SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA’s stuck astronauts after launch pad problem

Wilmore’s and Williams’ ride arrived back in late September with a downsized crew of two and two empty seats reserved for the leg back. But more delays resulted when their replacements’ brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs. An older capsule took its place, pushing up their return by a couple weeks to mid-March.

Weather permitting, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station early Tuesday and splash down off Florida’s coast later that evening.

Until then, there will be 11 aboard the orbiting lab, representing the U.S., Russia and Japan.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.