Four crew members are set to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. Their mission includes performing research, showcasing new technology, and conducting maintenance on the ISS.
The team consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They will depart from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This flight marks the 10th crew rotation mission with SpaceX and the 11th human flight in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. As the teams prepare the Dragon spacecraft for Crew-10, they are also getting ready a used Falcon 9 rocket. Once everything is checked and certified, the Dragon spacecraft will be connected to the Falcon 9 and taken to the launch pad for final preparations before the big day.
Anne McClain will be flying for the second time. Selected as an astronaut in 2013, McClain is a U.S. Army colonel with a strong academic background in engineering. She has logged over 2,300 flight hours and has been involved in a wide range of missions. During her first mission, she spent 204 days on the ISS, conducted two spacewalks, and contributed significantly to various projects. You can follow her journey on @astroannimal on X and @astro_annimal on Instagram.
Nichole Ayers is making her debut flight. She was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021 and has an impressive background as a major in the U.S. Air Force. With over 1,400 flight hours, Ayers is known for her roles as an instructor pilot and mission commander. You can catch updates from Ayers on @astro_ayers on X and @astro_ayers on Instagram.
Takuya Onishi will be returning to the ISS for the second time. A JAXA astronaut since 2009, he has experience that includes robotic operations and constructing new environments on board the ISS. He also has a background as a pilot for All Nippon Airways, with more than 3,700 flight hours. Follow Onishi on X at astro_onishi.
Kirill Peskov is also set to experience his first spaceflight. Before joining the cosmonaut corps in 2018, he built a background in aviation as a co-pilot and has undergone extensive training, including skydiving and survival skills.
After liftoff, the Falcon 9 will speed up the Dragon spacecraft to around 17,500 mph. Once in orbit, the crew will oversee maneuvers to guide Dragon for docking at the station’s Harmony module. While the spacecraft can dock on its own, the team is ready to take control if needed.
Once docked, Crew-10 will be greeted by the current Expedition 72 crew and have a brief transition period to discuss ongoing tasks. Following this, the Expedition 72 crew will return to Earth. Mission teams will check weather conditions for their landing ahead of the crew’s departure.
The Crew-10 team will conduct new scientific research, helping pave the way for future explorations. Their work includes testing material flammability for spacecraft and studying both physical and mental changes in astronauts during space travel. In total, the mission will feature over 200 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations.
While on the ISS, Crew-10 will also meet new crew members arriving via Soyuz and bid farewell to those returning to Earth. They will witness multiple cargo spacecraft arriving, which will help bring supplies and experiments to and from the station.
The Dragon spacecraft they will use, named Endurance, has a history of successful missions. Commercial crew missions are vital as they help NASA fully utilize the ISS, enabling astronauts to conduct essential research, develop new technologies, and prepare for extended journeys to the Moon and beyond through NASA’s Artemis program.
For more information about the ISS and its research, check out: NASA’s space station page.
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Commercial Crew, Expedition 72, International Space Station (ISS)
