NASA’s Crew-10 astronauts are set to arrive at the
International Space Station (ISS) on March 15 at 11:30 PM ET (9:00 AM IST on
March 16) for a six-month mission. They will replace NASA
astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, along with Nick
Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who will depart on March
19.
Who Are the Crew-10 Astronauts?
The newly arrived Crew-10 team consists of:
- Anne
McClain (NASA) – Military pilot
- Nichole
Ayers (NASA) – Military pilot
- Takuya
Onishi (JAXA, Japan) – Former airline pilot
- Kirill
Peskov (Roscosmos, Russia) – Former airline pilot
They will undergo a two-day handover period, during
which Crew-9 members will brief them on ISS operations before their departure.
Crew-10’s Journey to the ISS
Crew-10 was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket
from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03 PM ET on Friday (4:33 AM
IST on Saturday). Around 10 minutes into the flight, the Crew
Dragon capsule separated from the rocket and began its journey to the ISS.
Upon arrival, the ISS crew will temporarily increase to
11 astronauts, including:
- Current
ISS members: Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit,
Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, and Aleksandr Gorbunov.
- New
arrivals: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill
Peskov.
Why Is Crew-10’s Mission Critical?
One of the primary objectives of Crew-10’s arrival is to
facilitate the safe return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The duo
has been stuck on the ISS for nine months after arriving aboard Boeing’s
Starliner capsule in June. Their return was delayed due to technical
issues with the spacecraft.
With increasing urgency under President Donald Trump,
NASA has accelerated plans to bring them back. The return flight on
March 19 will be aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which is
already docked at the ISS. Two empty seats have been reserved for Williams and
Wilmore, along with Hague and Gorbunov.
What’s Next for Crew-10?
During their six-month stay, Crew-10 will conduct
various scientific experiments and space research, including:
- Lunar
navigation studies to support NASA’s Artemis missions.
- Material
flammability testing for future spacecraft and facility designs.
- Human
body research to study long-term effects of space travel.
Crew-10 is expected to remain aboard the ISS until the
fall of 2025, ensuring continued station operations and scientific
advancements.
With Crew-9’s return and Crew-10’s successful transition,
NASA’s plans for sustained human presence in space remain on track,
setting the stage for future deep-space missions.