Priyanka Tiwari
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The NASA-SpaceX Crew-10 mission is approaching a pivotal milestone as its Crew Dragon spacecraft prepares for rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, March 16. This mission also plays a crucial role in bringing back US astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, who have been unable to return due to technical malfunctions with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
According to NASA’s schedule, Crew Dragon is set to dock at the ISS at 11:30 p.m. EDT, with the hatch opening at 1:05 a.m. EDT. Following their arrival, the Crew-10 astronauts will be welcomed aboard, while Crew-9 will deliver their farewell remarks at 1:40 a.m. EDT.
Crew-10 Mission Launch and Journey to ISS
Crew-10 lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Friday. Approximately 10 minutes post-launch, the Crew Dragon capsule successfully separated from the rocket’s upper stage, beginning its journey toward the ISS.
The Crew-10 team consists of:
- Anne McClain (NASA astronaut)
- Nichole Ayers (NASA astronaut)
- Takuya Onishi (Japanese astronaut, JAXA)
- Kirill Peskov (Russian cosmonaut)
With their arrival, the ISS crew will temporarily increase to 11 members before Crew-9’s departure.
Astronaut Return and Handover Process
As part of NASA’s routine crew rotation, Crew-10 will undergo a two-day handover period before Williams and Wilmore can depart. Their return to Earth is currently scheduled for no earlier than Wednesday aboard a SpaceX capsule.
NASA will closely monitor weather conditions at potential splashdown sites off Florida’s coast to ensure a safe landing.
Boeing Starliner’s Technical Issues Delay Astronaut Return
Williams and Wilmore initially arrived at the ISS in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner with the expectation of staying for just one week. However, due to technical malfunctions, NASA deemed Starliner unsafe for their return, extending their mission to nearly nine months.
Crew-10’s Scientific Research on ISS
During their six-month mission, the Crew-10 team will participate in various scientific experiments, including:
- Lunar navigation studies to enhance future Artemis missions
- Material flammability tests to improve fire safety in space
- Human body response research to assess the effects of prolonged spaceflight
Their contributions will support NASA’s long-term space exploration objectives, including preparations for moon and Mars missions.
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