close video Stranded astronauts on SpaceX capsule undock from space station

The SpaceX capsule carrying astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams undocked from the International Space Station at 1:05 a.m. ET Tuesday, beginning the pair’s long-awaiting trip to Earth. (SpaceX)

Stranded NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams successfully undocked from the International Space Station at 1:05 a.m. Tuesday and began their long-awaited journey back home after more than nine months in space.

Wilmore and Williams are returning home in a SpaceX capsule with fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Alexander Gorbunov. They are expected to splashdown off the Florida coast at 5:57 p.m. on Tuesday.

Hours before their departure from the ISS, President Donald Trump said he had been in contact with NASA's acting administrator, Janet Petro, who is coordinating the mission to bring Wilmore and Williams back home.

"She is coordinating our Team of highly respected Scientists, Space Engineers, and various other ‘geniuses,’ who has agreed to let our Astronauts come home long prior to the two week period originally approved by NASA," Trump wrote, in part. "Janet was great. She said, ‘Let’s bring them home NOW, Sir!’ — And I thanked her."

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NASA video shows the SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague, and Russian astronaut Alexander Gorbunov, undocking from the International Space Station Tuesday at 1:05 a.m. (NASA via AP / AP Images)

The president also took a swipe at his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, and accused him of "forgetting" about Wilmore and Williams. Trump also spoke about Elon Musk and SpaceX's involvement in the return mission.

"This began when I asked Elon Musk to go up and get the abandoned Astronauts, because the Biden Administration was incapable of doing so," Trump claimed. "They shamefully forgot about the Astronauts, because they considered it to be a very embarrassing event for them – Another thing I inherited from that failed group of incompetents."

"Elon and I have taken on the project, sending up the SpaceX Dragon, which has successfully docked and, hopefully, while there is always danger involved in such a mission, they will soon be on their way home — Taking off tomorrow, and landing on Wednesday," he continued.

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Stranded NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are heading home after the SpaceX capsule sent to rescue them undocked from the International Space Station early Tuesday. (NASA via AP / AP Images)

Trump also added that officials will release more information about the astronauts' return in the coming days. 

"Safety always comes first, and maximum standards are being adhered to. But after eight long months for a mission that was supposed to be eight days, IT IS TIME," he concluded. "I look forward to seeing Butch and Suni, and thank you again to NASA and Janet Petro!"

President Donald Trump thanked acting NASA administrator Janet Petro for coordinating the mission to bring stranded NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back home.

Williams and Wilmore had been stranded on the ISS since June of last year. 

Originally planning to only be in space for a week, they patiently waited for a return to Earth after issues forced NASA to bring the Boeing Starliner back empty last summer. close video Stranded NASA astronauts undock from ISS, embark on return mission home

Former NASA astronaut Jose M. Hernandez shares insight into the mission to bring home two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station for nine month and details their physical recovery.

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SpaceX's Crew-10, which consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, arrived at the ISS on Sunday to relieve Williams and Wilmore.

SpaceX’s Crew-10 arrived at the ISS to relieve Williams and Wilmore, who began their journey back home early Tuesday morning. (SpaceX/NASA / FOXBusiness)

Fox News Digital's Landon Mion and Pilar Arias contributed to this report.