SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission took to the skies on March 14, 2025, paving the way for the much-anticipated return of two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months. This mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 7:03 p.m. EDT, aboard the Falcon 9 rocket, carrying four astronauts from three different nations.
At the heart of the Crew-10 team are NASA astronauts Anne McClain, serving as mission commander, and Nichole Ayers, the mission pilot. They are joined by Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Kirill Peskov from Roscosmos. Their spacecraft, Dragon capsule Endurance, is scheduled for docking with the ISS approximately 28.5 hours after launch, at 11:30 p.m. EDT on March 15.
The Crew-10 mission marks SpaceX’s 10th crew rotation to the ISS and its 11th crewed flight overall, including the Demo-2 test mission. The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage consumed one million pounds of propellant within the first three minutes, showcasing SpaceX’s advancements in launch technology.
This mission is not simply routine; it serves to relieve astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who initially arrived at the ISS for what was meant to be just eight days back in June 2024. Technical problems with their Starliner spacecraft forced them to remain for longer, raising concern about astronauts potentially being overlooked. Wilmore and Williams, along with fellow astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are expected to return to Earth no earlier than March 19, 2025.
Maj. Nichole Ayers reflects on her military training, saying, “Most of my training has been in the operationalrealm; learning to make split-second decisions under intense pressure is something we learn throughout our time as Air Force pilots.” This training prepares astronauts like Ayers for the unexpected challenges of space travel.
Even during the most challenging missions, Ayers emphasizes, “It is the people who matter the most. Take care of your people, and they will take care of the mission.” This philosophy embodies teamwork, which is invaluable during their time aboard the ISS.
The spacecraft’s arrival is expected to commence with hatches opening around 1:05 a.m. EDT on March 16, followed closely by welcome festivities for the incoming crew. The new arrivals will immediately engage with the current ISS team, which has been conducting important research and maintaining station operations during their extended stay.
The mission is part of NASA’s strategy to optimize the ISS, utilizing the facilities where humans have thrived for more than 24 years. Through these missions, NASA is able to conduct research, test technologies for future commercial spaceflight, and develop capabilities for long-duration missions to the Moon and beyond, aligning with the Artemis program’s goals.
SpaceX and NASA’s collaborative efforts signal more than just reassignments of crew members; they establish paths toward sustainable and repeatable human presence within low Earth orbit. The return of Wilmore and Williams, alongside their international counterparts, showcases the shared commitment toward advancing human endeavors beyond Earth.
Ayers, whose passion for space was ignited during her childhood, recognizes the significance of this moment. “Representing the Air Force at NASA is one of my greatest honors,” she states. The mission encapsulates her dream of becoming an astronaut, which began when she was inspired by the Space Shuttle program.
With Crew-10’s scheduled arrival, attention shifts to the importance of their scientific contributions and the future prospects for human spaceflight. They will replace, rather than just relieve, the untenured astronauts aboard the ISS, ensuring seamless continuity of operations and research activities.
NASA is optimistic about the future and the role of commercial crew missions. “The advancements are made to benefit not only the missions we are running but also people on Earth,” Ayers emphasizes. This forward-thinking approach will establish frameworks for future space exploration, aiming for more ambitious goals where human lives are integral to research beyond our planet.
With the Crew-10 mission successfully underway, this pivotal moment heralds new opportunities for astronauts aimed at pushing the frontiers of humanity's presence beyond the gravitational boundary of Earth.