The mission, which took off on Saturday, sees NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov en route to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Once their science mission concludes, they are expected to return alongside Boeing’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in February. Wilmore and Williams have been aboard the ISS since June 5 after technical issues grounded the Starliner crew vehicle.

This mission marks the first human spaceflight from a new launch pad. It showcases the collaborative spirit of NASA, SpaceX, and international partners as they work together to solve real-time space challenges.

SpaceX’s role in rescuing the stranded Starliner astronauts highlights its reliability in the commercial spaceflight sector, further setting the standard for space missions and partnerships.