The long-awaited rescue mission has finally taken flight. SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission has successfully launched, embarking on a high-stakes operation to bring home two NASA astronauts who have been unexpectedly stranded in space for nearly nine months—a mission that was originally intended to last just eight days.
After several delays and an aborted launch earlier this month, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has now set off toward the International Space Station (ISS) to retrieve Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, whose return was derailed when their Boeing spacecraft was deemed too unsafe to bring them home.
This historic mission also carries four additional astronauts to the ISS, marking yet another crucial moment in the ongoing collaboration between NASA and SpaceX.
Astronauts Stranded in Space for Nearly a Year
When Williams and Wilmore first embarked on their journey in June of last year, the plan was simple: an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft before safely returning to Earth.
However, things quickly took a dramatic turn when technical failures with the spacecraft raised serious safety concerns, preventing them from making their scheduled return.
What was supposed to be a quick mission turned into a prolonged stay aboard the ISS, forcing the astronauts to adjust to an indefinite timeline while NASA scrambled to figure out the best way to bring them home safely.
A Delayed Rescue Mission Finally Takes Flight
Initially, a rescue attempt was scheduled for March 12, but SpaceX was forced to abort the launch at the last minute after discovering an issue with the hydraulic system on the launch pad.
The mission was rescheduled, and now, on March 14, the Falcon 9 rocket has officially launched, successfully making its way toward the ISS.
This mission isn’t just about bringing Williams and Wilmore home—it’s also delivering a fresh team of astronauts to continue work on the ISS.
The four astronauts onboard Crew-10 include:
- Anne McClain
- Nichole Ayers
- Takuya Onishi
- Kirill Peskov
SpaceX and NASA Provide Updates on the Mission
Leading up to the launch, SpaceX released an official statement, confirming the details of the mission and setting expectations for what’s to come.
“SpaceX and NASA are targeting no earlier than Friday, March 14, for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon’s 10th operational human spaceflight mission (Crew-10) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida,” the company shared.
The update continued:
“Launch is targeted for 7:03 p.m. ET, with a backup opportunity available on Saturday, March 15, at 6:41 p.m. ET.”
They also confirmed that SpaceX provided a live webcast of the launch, streaming it on X (formerly Twitter) and the new X TV app, allowing the world to witness the crucial mission unfold in real-time.
Historic Spacecraft Used for Crew-10 Mission
In a rare and exciting moment for space travel innovation, the spacecraft used for Crew-10 has a rich history of previous successful missions.
The Dragon capsule supporting this launch has previously been used for Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions, making it a proven and reliable spacecraft for such an important operation.
Similarly, the first-stage booster of the Falcon 9 rocket has also been reused, having previously launched the SES 03b mPOWER-e mission.
Following the stage separation after launch, the Falcon 9 booster successfully landed at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station—a crucial step that ensures SpaceX’s continued commitment to reusability in space travel.
Concerns Over the Health of Stranded Astronauts
With Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 61, having spent nearly a year in space, there has been growing concern over their physical and mental well-being.
Extended space missions often result in muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and other health risks due to prolonged exposure to microgravity.
NASA officials had previously hinted at potential alternative return options, including the possibility of bringing the astronauts home on SpaceX’s Crew-9 flight in February, but no formal commitment was made.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, had shared:
“We have been working with SpaceX to ensure they are ready to respond with Crew-9 as a contingency. We have not formally committed to this path, but we wanted to ensure we had all that flexibility in place.”
However, NASA’s prime goal has always been to return Butch and Suni on Starliner—the original spacecraft designed for their mission. But after continued technical difficulties, the decision was made to send a SpaceX mission instead.
What Happens Next?
Now that the Falcon 9 has successfully launched, the Crew-10 spacecraft is expected to dock at the ISS within a matter of days.
Once the astronauts are safely aboard the returning spacecraft, NASA will closely monitor Williams and Wilmore’s health as they prepare for re-entry and landing.
After spending nearly a year in space, the two astronauts will likely undergo extensive medical evaluations upon their return, assessing the impact of their extended stay in microgravity.
One thing is certain: after months of uncertainty, they’ll undoubtedly be relieved to finally set foot on solid ground again.
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