WASHINGTON, D.C. – A SpaceX mission carrying two active-duty U.S. military officers is scheduled to launch today from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Crew-10 mission, using the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft, is tasked with bringing home two NASA astronauts who have remained on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024. The information was released in a press statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.

According to the press release, the mission follows a delay in the return of NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams, both retired U.S. Navy captains. The delay was due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was originally intended to transport them back to Earth. NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, prompting a decision to send the Starliner back to Earth without crew members.

President Donald J. Trump previously addressed the situation, calling for the safe return of Wilmore and Williams. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a statement expressing support for the military presence in the mission, which includes Army Col. Anne McClain and Air Force Maj. Nichole Ayers. McClain, the Crew-10 commander, previously spent 204 days on the ISS, while Ayers has experience flying combat missions in the F-22 Raptor.

The mission marks the 10th crew rotation under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and SpaceX’s 17th crewed orbital flight. The Crew Dragon Endurance is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday, with plans to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth by March 16. Some members of the Crew-10 team will remain aboard the ISS for six months, conducting over 200 scientific experiments related to microgravity and disease treatment research.

Another NASA astronaut, Lt. Cmdr. Jonny Kim, a former Navy SEAL and physician, is set to launch no earlier than April 8, 2025, to participate in future ISS expeditions.