NASA and SpaceX on Friday launched a long-awaited crew to the International Space Station that will let them bring home U.S. astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck on the orbital lab for nine months.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft last June. The duo were flying the capsule's first crewed flight test, which was expected to stay in orbit for about 10 days before flying the pair back to Earth.

SpaceX launched a fresh crew to the International Space Station on Friday night to relieve NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck in orbit for nearly nine months. Their return is scheduled for next week,