After 251 days in space (and counting), a date has finally been set for the rescue mission of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore.

NASA on Tuesday swapped out the astronaut capsule it plans to use for an upcoming routine flight to the International Space Station, a scheduling move that will allow a slightly earlier return for two Starliner astronauts who have been on the station far longer than expected.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who is from Needham, could be coming home in mid-March because NASA will switch capsules for upcoming flights.