A routine crew rotation at the International Space Station has taken on unusual significance: It paves the way for a pair of astronauts stranded for more than nine months to finally come home.

A pair of astronauts stuck aboard the International Space Station for over nine months may have to wait a little longer to return home after the launch of their replacements was postponed.

A launch pad problem prompted SpaceX to delay a flight to the International Space Station on Wednesday to replace NASA’s two stuck astronauts . The new crew needs to get to the International Space Station before Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams can head home after nine months in orbit.

SpaceX delayed the launch of a new crew to the International Space Station on Wednesday in a mission that would pave the way for marooned astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to finally return home.