WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - 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.

The U.S. space agency said mission management teams opted to

use a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule for its

Crew-10 mission to the space station, instead of a new SpaceX

capsule whose production it said has been delayed.

The decision moves up the Crew-10 launch to March 12, from

the previous target of March 25.

The return of two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni

Williams, who flew to the International Space Station on

Boeing's ( BA ) faulty Starliner capsule last summer, has hinged

on the arrival of the Crew-10's four-person crew in order to

keep the station's American contingent staffed at normal levels.