Two NASA astronauts are launched into the space station by a new crew and begin the return process.

Four astronauts were launched into orbit on their way to the International Space Station on Friday evening. The astronauts included NASA’s Anne McLain and Nicole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Onysia, and Russian astronaut Kirill Peskov. They were lifted from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 7:03 pm and soared into the blue sky over Florida approximately 48 hours after the initial launch.

“This mission is evidence of what humans can achieve when we work together,” Ayers radioed mission control during the smooth countdown.

The Crew 10 mission is part of the regular rotation of NASA crew members to the space station. This particular mission is drawing more attention as it involves the anticipated return of NASA astronauts Snie Williams and Butch Willmore back to Earth.

Williams and Wilmore have been in the spotlight for months due to unusual circumstances in orbit. They were initially scheduled for a one-week stay in June as part of a test flight for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft but encountered vehicle issues that extended their stay at the space station.

The new crew will relieve Williams, Wilmore, and two others for a six-month stint at the space station, including NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Alexander Golvnov.

The crew of Crew 10 was launched atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The first reusable booster stage successfully returned to Earth about ten minutes after liftoff, landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

“Tonight was an honor to fly with you,” said a SpaceX flight director to the crew in orbit. “We will support you on your journey and wish you the best.”

The crew of 10 astronauts will spend over 28 hours in low-Earth orbit traveling to the space station. They are expected to reach the space station on Saturday. The return crew could depart as early as March 19th, according to NASA.

The recent launch attempts added drama to the situation. The countdown was halted on Wednesday with 40 minutes remaining due to a ground system issue at the launch pad. The astronauts were already strapped inside the dragon capsule when the decision was made.

The Crew 10 Group consists of a mix of experienced astronauts and first-timers, all with a background as pilots. McLain and Onisi are visiting the space station for the second time, while Ayers and Peskov are on their first space flight journey.

Arrivals at the space station mark the beginning of a handover period which includes training new crews and catching up on scientific experiments, maintenance work, and other projects.

Williams, Wilmore, Hague, and Golbunov are expected to return to Earth via the SpaceX Dragon Capsule, where Hague and Golbunov originally flew to the space station. The Starliner spacecraft, which encountered issues, is being brought back to Earth without any crew onboard.

The extended stay of Williams and Wilmore in low-earth orbit has gained political attention, with claims by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump regarding their return to Earth. However, NASA has planned to use SpaceX vehicles for the return journey since the announcement in August.