NASA and SpaceX Launch Crew-10 Mission to Bring ‘Stranded’ ISS Astronauts back to Earth
NASA and SpaceX are just minutes away from launching the highly anticipated Crew-10 mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission is crucial for the return of veteran astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been on the International Space Station for over nine months.
Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the launch was delayed due to technical issues with ground systems. Now, all systems are go, and the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew-10 astronauts is set for liftoff at 7:03 PM EST (2303 GMT).
Why This Mission Is Critical
Williams and Wilmore were testing Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed mission last year. However, propulsion issues forced NASA to keep them on the ISS longer than planned, turning what was supposed to be a short stay into a nine-month mission. The Crew-10 launch will finally allow their safe return.
Who Is Aboard Crew-10?
The four-member Crew-10 team includes:
- NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers
- Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov
They will travel aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule and are expected to dock with the ISS around 11:30 PM EST on Saturday.
Williams and Wilmore’s Long-Awaited Return
Once Crew-10 completes its handover with the Crew-9 astronauts, including NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos’ Aleksandr Gorbunov, Williams and Wilmore will finally board the Crew-9 Dragon capsule and return to Earth. Their departure is scheduled for March 19, pending weather conditions.
Changing the Narrative
Despite widespread speculation that they were “stuck” in space, Williams and Wilmore have dismissed these claims. “We were never stranded. We were prepared and committed to the mission,” Wilmore stated in a recent interview.
The world is watching as the countdown reaches its final moments. If all goes according to plan, Crew-10’s success will mark another milestone in SpaceX and NASA’s continued collaboration in space exploration.
