A SpaceX capsule arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early on Sunday, aiming to bring two US astronauts back to Earth after they have spent the last nine months on duty at the station. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams experienced a delay in their original eight-day trip due to problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Both NASA and SpaceX confirmed the capsule’s docking at the ISS at 0404 GMT. The process was live-streamed and showed the spacecraft attaching itself to the station’s hatch as the crew waited to welcome the new arrivals on board.

On Friday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon spacecraft into orbit, carrying four astronauts: NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. These astronauts will overlap with Wilmore and Williams, along with NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’sAleksandr Gorbunov, for a few days before the newcomers leave for Earth as early as Wednesday.

Wilmore and Williams’ extended stay at the ISS resulted from technical issues and scheduling delays. US President Donald Trump previously called for an earlier return for Wilmore and Williams, blaming Joe Biden’s administration for leaving them stranded. However, both astronauts agreed with NASA’s decision to lengthen their stay from a short trip into a general rotation that usually lasts six months.

Kieran Burke edited the content.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/spacex-capsule-for-stranded-astronauts-docks-at-iss/a-71934366?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf