CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts launched to the International Space Station on Friday night, paving the way for the pair’s return after nine long months.

Following multiple delays, a SpaceX rocket carrying four astronauts finally blasted off Friday bound for the International Space Station on a flight that sets the stage for Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to finally come home after nearly 300 days in space.

The spacecraft that will carry the next crew of astronauts to the International Space Station has arrived at the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.