In a cosmic game of musical chairs, SpaceX's newest crew capsule successfully delivered four astronauts to the ISS, freeing two stranded spacefarers who'd been stuck since June, thanks to a stubborn Boeing spacecraft.

The successful docking of the SpaceX capsule not only marks a triumphant return to space for NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi, and Russia's Kirill Peskov, but it also rescues Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from their unintended six-month sabbatical in orbit. While the duo initially signed up for an eight-day mission, their extended stay became a test of both patience and the limits of space cuisine, all thanks to Boeing's technical hiccups that kept their ride home in the repair shop longer than a broken down jalopy.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docked with the ISS at 4:04 AM UK time, just 29 hours after launching from Kennedy Space Center. In a feat of cosmic precision, the capsule didn’t just slam into the space station like an overzealous delivery driver but instead took its sweet time to align itself perfectly, ensuring a smooth docking process. Once tethered, the astronauts were met with a strict hour and 45 minutes of safety checks before the hatches were finally opened and they could reunite with Wilmore and Williams.

The arrival of the new crew has been celebrated by all circles of space enthusiasts and, presumably, the surviving edible options left to Wilmore and Williams. Upon their arrival, Wilmore greeted the newcomers with a ship's bell, describing the moment as 'a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive.' One can only imagine the mixed feelings that came with seeing familiar faces after so many months, contrasted against the lingering presence of freeze-dried lasagna and rehydrated applesauce.

For Wilmore and Williams, who initially intended to make a brief stop in the great beyond, this unexpected extended stay has turned into a lesson in how to occupy oneself in a floating tin can. They’ll be returning home aboard an older spacecraft. It seems the duo’s ride is something of an elderly relative—a bit cranky and requiring an extensive battery transplant which means their high-tech ride back is more like a dependable but slightly rusty old car. As anyone who has ever driven an old car knows, it’s all about the adventure and the occasional pit stop.

With Wilmore and Williams due to undock no earlier than Wednesday, excitement is building not just on the ISS, but also among the families and friends of the astronauts who have probably gotten very good at planting their faces against their windows, watching for streaks of light that signal their heroes' return. The planned splashdown off Florida's coast will be more than just a return; it’s a dramatic end to a whole chapter of space adventure, with only minor concerns over the associated plummeting from the sky.

While the new crew prepares to settle in for their six-month stay aboard the ISS, they can rest assured knowing they share the cosmic workplace with two seasoned space travelers. McClain and Ayers, both veterans of space travel, are expected to bring their experience to tackle the challenges ahead, whether that involves a technical experiment gone awry or simply deciding who gets to control the remote for NASA’s streaming services.

This cosmic crew change serves as a reminder that the universe is not without its quirks. Like an unwelcome party guest who overstays their welcome due to a defective suit malfunction, astronauts aren’t quite exempt from the whims of technology. So as we await the secure undocking and the 'returning home' stories peppered with tales of galactic distance and food rations, we can only hope that future missions will remember to double-check their spacecraft’s batteries. After all, nobody wants to extend their out-of-office message for too long, especially in zero gravity where ice cream actually does float.