NASA and SpaceX launched a new crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to bring home two NASA astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Originally expected to stay for just over a week, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore faced delays due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Their return is now set through SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission, which launched successfully from Florida.
Successful launch of crew-10 mission
NASA and SpaceX have launched a new crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This marks a critical step in bringing back two astronauts who have been in space since last June.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 7:03 pm Eastern Time on Friday, carrying the Crew-10 mission. Two and a half minutes after launch, SpaceX confirmed the first stage separation. The booster landed successfully at Landing Zone 1 near the launch pad. The spacecraft is en route to the ISS and will dock at 11:30 pm Eastern Time on Saturday. The journey will take 28.5 hours.
The Crew-10 mission includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They will replace the current ISS crew: NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The outgoing crew is set to return to Earth.
Extended stay due to technical issues
Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams launched aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule on 5 June, expecting a short mission. However, helium leaks and thruster malfunctions extended their stay. NASA and Boeing deemed the Starliner unsafe for return. They arranged for the astronauts to return on a SpaceX flight, initially scheduled for February. To speed up their return, SpaceX used a different capsule, moving their homecoming to mid-March.
Astronauts who travelled to the ISS last September on a SpaceX rescue mission will accompany them home. Two seats on the return leg are reserved for Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams. NASA scheduled an overlap between the two crews to ensure a smooth transition. The departing astronauts will brief their replacements before undocking, expected next week. They will then splash down off the Florida coast, weather permitting.
Challenges and crew contributions
During their extended mission, Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams played a key role in station maintenance. They repaired a broken toilet, watered plants, conducted experiments, and completed a spacewalk. Ms Williams set a record for the most time spent spacewalking by a female astronaut, with nine spacewalks in her career.
The Crew-10 mission faced initial delays due to ground-based technical issues, including battery repairs on the new capsule. A last-minute hydraulic issue on Wednesday raised concerns over a clamp arm on the Falcon rocket’s support structure. SpaceX resolved the problem by flushing the hydraulic system to remove trapped air.
Earlier in the week, another SpaceX rocket exploded mid-air, scattering debris across the sky. Onlookers worldwide captured the incident on camera.
Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams remained positive about their prolonged stay and supported NASA’s decisions. However, they acknowledged the challenges for their families. Mr Wilmore looks forward to reuniting with his wife and two daughters. Ms Williams is eager to see her husband, mother, and take her two Labrador retrievers for a walk.
“We appreciate all the love and support from everyone,” Ms Williams said in a recent interview. “This mission has gained attention—there are positives and negatives to that—but the best part is that more people are becoming interested in what we do.”
