The pair originally set out on an eight-day mission last June, but the Boeing Starliner had so many problems NASA deemed it unsafe to carry anyone back to Earth. Wilmore and Williams began what would ultimately be a more than nine-month stay aboard the ISS.

The mission to rescue two astronauts, including Needham native Sunita Williams, is now underway. After being postponed, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 had a successful launch Friday night. People in Needham are crossing their fingers that everything runs smoothly.

The Crew-10 mission will send four astronauts to the space station to take over for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ crew, finally allowing their return home.