Elon Musk’s SpaceX has successfully rescued NASA’s stranded astronauts, who have spent nine months in space, and they are now on their way home.
The daring rescue mission was broadcast live by NASA just two hours before the astronauts’ departure.
Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore were safely undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 1:05 a.m. ET (5:05 a.m. GMT) aboard the Dragon spacecraft.
With NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov also on board, the group is currently making the 17-hour journey back to Earth. The astronauts are scheduled to land off the coast of Florida at 5:57 p.m. ET (9:57 p.m. GMT).
“Crew Nine is going home,” Hague, the commander of the departing Crew Dragon, said from the spacecraft moments after they began their journey.
“On behalf of Crew Nine, it was a privilege to call space home… to live and work… in cooperation for the benefit of humanity.
“To our colleagues and dear friends who remain on the station, we know the station is in great hands. We’re excited to see what you guys are going to accomplish, and we’ll be waiting for you.”
