NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-10 mission on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 7:03 p.m. EDT, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission aims to facilitate the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024.
Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay resulted from technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which was initially intended to bring them back to Earth. Despite the prolonged mission, both astronauts continued their scientific research and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS.
The Crew-10 mission also transported four new crew members to the ISS: NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. This marks the tenth operational crew rotation under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The launch experienced a brief delay due to a ground hydraulics issue but proceeded successfully after resolving the problem. The Crew-10 team is scheduled to dock with the ISS late Saturday, after which Williams and Wilmore will prepare for their return journey aboard the already docked Dragon capsule. Their return to Earth is anticipated around March 20 or 21.
This mission underscores the resilience and adaptability of space exploration efforts, addressing unexpected challenges through international collaboration and technological innovation.
