NASA has successfully launched the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, marking another significant milestone in the collaboration between NASA and SpaceX. This mission, which took off at precisely 7:03 p.m. EDT on a Friday evening, is part of a science expedition destined for the International Space Station (ISS). The launch occurred at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida from the renowned Launch Complex 39A.
The mission utilizes the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which is a powerful and reliable vehicle known for its reusability and efficiency. This rocket carried the Dragon spacecraft into orbit, and on board were four crew members: NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Kirill Peskov, a cosmonaut from Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency. Their journey involves the Dragon spacecraft autonomously docking with the ISS, specifically at the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. This docking is scheduled to occur around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.
Once the Dragon spacecraft docks, the crew will join the existing Expedition 72/73 team for an extended stay aboard the ISS. This collaboration is part of a long-term mission to conduct scientific research and experiments that have the potential to benefit humanity. The mission aligns with NASA’s goals to maintain American leadership in space exploration while also fostering growth in the space economy.
Janet Petro, NASA’s acting Administrator, expressed her congratulations to the NASA and SpaceX teams for achieving this significant milestone. She emphasized that the Crew-10 mission highlights NASA’s enduring commitment to space exploration, which spans from low Earth orbit to future adventures on the Moon and Mars. The international crew aboard the ISS will engage in innovative scientific research and technological development, contributing to advancements that benefit everyone on Earth.
During the mission, SpaceX will oversee a sequence of automated spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. Simultaneously, NASA will monitor space station operations from the Mission Control Center located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This coordinated effort ensures the smooth operation and safety of the mission.
For those interested in following the mission, NASA has scheduled live coverage to resume at 9:45 p.m. on March 15. The coverage will include the rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening events. After the spacecraft docks, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare the cargo for offloading. The hatch between the Dragon spacecraft and the ISS’s Harmony module is expected to open around 1:05 a.m. on Sunday, March 16. Once aboard the space station, the new crew will be welcomed with remarks broadcasted by NASA, followed by farewell remarks from the departing SpaceX Crew-9 team. This broadcast is scheduled to begin at approximately 1:40 a.m.
As the Crew-10 team joins the ISS, the number of crew members temporarily increases to 11. They will work alongside existing crew members, including NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Don Pettit, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. After a brief handover period, some of the Crew-9 members will return to Earth. However, their return is contingent upon favorable weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of Florida, which mission teams will assess prior to the Crew-9 departure.
The Crew-10 mission has several key objectives, including conducting material flammability tests. These tests are crucial for developing safer spacecraft and facilities in the future. Additionally, the crew will engage with students across the globe through the ISS Ham Radio program. They will also test a backup lunar navigation solution using the program’s existing hardware. Furthermore, one of the crew members will participate in an integrated study to gain insights into the physiological and psychological changes that occur in the human body during space missions. This research is invaluable for future deep-space missions.
NASA continues to utilize the ISS as a platform for research and development, having maintained a continuous human presence in space for over 24 years. The space station serves as a testing ground for new technologies and scientific endeavors, helping to develop the skills necessary for operating future commercial space destinations and exploring beyond our planet. The research conducted aboard the ISS not only benefits those on Earth but also lays the groundwork for future long-duration missions to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign and beyond.
### More about the Crew-10 Members
Anne McClain serves as the commander of the Crew-10 mission. This is her second visit to the ISS since becoming an astronaut in 2013. She will also take on the role of flight engineer during Expeditions 72/73 at the space station. Nichole Ayers, the pilot of Crew-10, is embarking on her first space mission. Selected as an astronaut in 2021, Ayers will also serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72/73.
Takuya Onishi, a mission specialist for Crew-10, is making his second trip to the ISS. He will join McClain and Ayers as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72/73. Meanwhile, Kirill Peskov, also a mission specialist, is experiencing his first space mission. Peskov will join his fellow crew members as a flight engineer for the same expeditions.
For more detailed information about NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission and the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, interested readers can visit the official NASA website.
This successful launch and the subsequent mission continue to demonstrate the capabilities and achievements of international collaboration in space exploration. By working together, agencies like NASA, SpaceX, JAXA, and Roscosmos contribute to the advancement of science and technology, ultimately benefiting humanity and paving the way for future exploration endeavors.
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