SpaceX Swaps Dragon Capsules & Targets March 12 for Crew 10 Launch, March 19th For Butch and Suni Return As Station Approaches Resource Limits

NASA is finalizing plans to bring two of its astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, back to Earth as early as March 19—nearly two weeks ahead of the publicly announced timeline. The accelerated return involves reassigning spacecraft on the ground and delaying the Axiom-4 private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) until later this spring.

The astronauts, affectionately known as "Butch and Suni," have been at the center of space community discussions since their unexpected spacecraft issues last summer. Wilmore and Williams flew to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, which faced serious propulsion problems before docking. The decision was made to leave the malfunctioning vehicle at the station and bring the astronauts home aboard a SpaceX Dragon vehicle. Their new ride—part of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission—launched in September with two empty seats specifically for Wilmore and Williams.

The Dragon Shuffle

Originally scheduled to return in February 2025, Wilmore and Williams’ homecoming was delayed due to issues with a brand-new Dragon vehicle, C213, which SpaceX had been preparing for the next NASA crew rotation mission, Crew-10. The delay stems from ongoing work related to the vehicle’s batteries, which require further inspection and potential replacement.

As a result, NASA announced in December that Crew-10’s launch was postponed to "late March," pushing the return of Crew-9 to early April.

However, NASA has since reassessed this timeline and sources indicate that NASA and SpaceX now expect the C213 vehicle to be ready no earlier than late April. To avoid additional delays, NASA requested that SpaceX bring forward a different Dragon capsule—C210, also known as "Endurance."

This spacecraft successfully completed the Crew-7 mission and returned to Earth last March. It was originally slated to support the private Axiom-4 mission later this spring, but its reassignment to Crew-10 aims to resolve scheduling conflicts and ensure that Wilmore and Williams return sooner.

SpaceX is now targeting a March 12 launch for Crew-10 using the Endurance vehicle. If this timeline holds, Wilmore and Williams could return aboard Crew-9 on March 19, marking 286 consecutive days in space—a significant extension compared to their original mission duration of 8 to 30 days.

Trump and Musk Comments

In recent weeks, the return of "Butch and Suni" has gained political traction, particularly following public remarks by former President Donald Trump. Just over a week ago, Trump, who recently began his second term in office, criticized the perceived delay in bringing the astronauts home.

"I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to 'go get' the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. They have been waiting for many months on Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck." - President Trump

Musk, who serves as SpaceX CEO, echoed Trump’s remarks, referring to the astronauts as "stranded" and blaming the previous administration for keeping them in space longer than necessary.

Despite the political rhetoric, NASA officials insist that the current plan reflects a practical response to technical challenges and logistical constraints rather than political motivations. The plan for Wilmore and Williams’ return was outlined in August 2024 and approved by Musk himself during discussions with NASA leadership.

The delays have primarily resulted from the unforeseen technical issue with the C213 vehicle and the need to maintain crew rotation schedules aboard the ISS.

Approaching Resource Limitations

Waiting for C213’s readiness would have meant extending the Crew-9 mission to a point where critical onboard resources—such as food, water, and oxygen—could have hit operational limits.

Additionally, NASA is juggling a packed schedule of upcoming cargo and crewed missions, making the March rotation essential to ensure continued ISS operations without disruption.

If all goes according to plan, Wilmore and Williams will land on Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle on March 19, concluding a nearly 10-month mission marked by unexpected complications, spacecraft shuffling, and political intrigue.

The return would allow NASA to reset its crew rotation schedule, with the Endurance spacecraft continuing its next mission and the newly built C213 Dragon vehicle debuting later this spring.

For Wilmore and Williams, the journey back home will bring closure to a mission that tested their resilience and adaptability in space.