SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched NASA’s Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 14. The crew includes NASA astronaut Anne McClain, U.S. Air Force Major Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Roscosmos Cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.
They are set to dock with the ISS around 11:30 p.m. on March 15, marking the start of the 73rd long-duration mission in nearly 25 years. The return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams is also imminent after a technical malfunction extended their stay on the ISS.
The launch was delayed by two days due to a hydraulic issue, but mission managers prioritized safety. The Crew-9 members, Hague and Gorbunov, will soon be relieved by Crew-10 after a brief handover process.
Experiments and maintenance tasks will continue on the ISS with Crew-10, including studies on human physiology in space. McClain expressed excitement about contributing to scientific research during the mission.
At the end of their mission, Crew-10 is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California. NASA plans to maintain a continuous human presence in space with commercial and international partners until at least 2030.
