NASA, SpaceX Successfully Launch Crew-10 Mission to ISS, Rescuing Stranded Astronauts
Key Highlights:
- Crew-10 Mission Launched: NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-10 mission on Friday, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for a routine rotation.
- Smooth Liftoff: The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03 p.m. ET (5:03 a.m. PKT, Saturday), clearing all flight checkpoints without issue.
- International Crew: The mission includes astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, and JAXA:
- Kirill Peskov (Roscosmos, Russia) – Mission Specialist
- Nichole Ayers (NASA, U.S.) – Pilot
- Anne McClain (NASA, U.S.) – Commander
- Takuya Onishi (JAXA, Japan) – Mission Specialist
- Rescue Mission: The mission will bring home NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the ISS since June 2024 due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
- Return Plan: With Crew-10’s arrival, Wilmore and Williams are expected to return to Earth on March 19.
- 28-Hour Journey: Crew-10 will dock at the ISS on Saturday night (Sunday morning PKT) after a 28-hour flight.
The Crew-10 mission marks another milestone in international space cooperation, ensuring a safe rotation of astronauts and the long-awaited return of Wilmore and Williams. The successful launch further strengthens partnerships between NASA, SpaceX, Roscosmos, and JAXA in advancing space exploration.
