NASA and SpaceX Launch Crew-10 Mission
NASA and SpaceX launched the Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Dragon spacecraft, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at 10:33 am AEDT after a brief delay.
Liftoff of Crew-10! pic.twitter.com/OOLMFQgA52
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2025
The Crew-10 mission marks the 10th crew rotation under SpaceX’s human space transportation system. It is the 11th crewed flight to the ISS through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, including the Demo-2 test flight.
The new crew consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They will replace the current ISS crew and facilitate the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
Extended Stay Due to Technical Issues
Williams and Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 2024. They launched as test pilots for Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which was initially planned for an eight-day mission. A series of technical malfunctions, including helium leaks and thruster failures, rendered the spacecraft unsafe for a return trip.
Figure 1: NASA Starliner astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore in space
NASA and Boeing conducted investigations before deciding to send the Starliner capsule back to Earth without crew members. By September 2024, NASA reassigned Williams and Wilmore to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which arrived with only two astronauts instead of four to accommodate their return.
Delays in Return Flight
NASA planned their return for February 2025 but postponed it due to battery repairs on SpaceX’s new capsule. To expedite the process, SpaceX opted to use a previously flown capsule, rescheduling their homecoming to mid-March.
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Williams and Wilmore are expected to undock from the ISS next week, depending on weather conditions, and splash down off the Florida coast.
Political Attention on the Mission
The delay in their return became a political issue in the United States. Former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk accused the previous administration of intentionally delaying the astronauts’ return. Musk made controversial statements on social media, which led to criticism from retired astronauts.
Wilmore defended Musk’s remarks, stating they “must have been factual” despite not having direct knowledge of the situation.
Trump referred to Williams as “the woman with the wild hair” and speculated on her personal dynamic with Wilmore. His comments drew further attention to the mission.
Contributions to the ISS During Extended Stay
Despite the delays, Williams and Wilmore played a crucial role in ISS operations. They conducted scientific experiments, repaired equipment, and participated in a spacewalk.
Williams, who holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman, completed her ninth spacewalk. They also repaired a malfunctioning toilet and maintained the station’s plant growth experiments.
Figure 2: Sunita and Wilmore lending hands at ISS during their extended stay
Wilmore, a retired Navy captain and church elder, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute. “We came prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short,” he said.
Personal Sacrifices and Reunion Plans
The extended mission took a toll on the astronauts’ personal lives. Wilmore’s wife and two daughters have been waiting for his return, while Williams looks forward to reuniting with her husband, mother, and two Labrador retrievers.
Figure 3: Sunita Williams with her dog, Gunner
Wilmore plans to resume his ministerial duties, and Williams is eager to reconnect with her family and daily life. “We appreciate all the love and support from everybody,” Williams said.
NASA has scheduled an overlap period for the incoming and outgoing crews. Williams and Wilmore will brief their replacements before their departure.
Future of Space Missions
The Crew-10 mission represents another milestone in SpaceX’s collaboration with NASA. The ISS remains a critical hub for international space exploration, and commercial partnerships continue to shape its operations.
NASA and Boeing are working on solutions for the Starliner capsule’s technical issues. The agency aims to ensure future missions remain on schedule and free from prolonged delays.
Space agencies worldwide continue to monitor the mission’s progress. The upcoming return of Williams and Wilmore will mark the conclusion of an unexpected nine-month stay in space.
