NASA on Friday night finally launched a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station to rescue two astronauts that have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since last year. 

The launch comes after the space agency unexpectedly canceled its last attempt earlier this week, because of issues with one of the clamp arms that held the rocket in place on the launch pad. 

The lift-off was successfully completed at 7:03 p.m. Eastern, the space agency said.

The launch comes after NASA repeatedly delayed rescue operations for stranded astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were only expected to be on the station for a week. The pair have been stranded in space since June because of safety issues related to their Boeing spacecraft. 

The new rescue operation features astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese mission specialist Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.

The stranded astronauts are expected to return to Earth by next weekend, according to CBS News.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.