NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission took off at 7:03 p.m. EDT from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission is important for science, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for research and technology development.
Onboard the Dragon spacecraft were NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their ride, the Falcon 9 rocket, safely launched them into orbit. They are expected to dock with the ISS around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, where they will join other crew members and stay for an extended period.
NASA’s acting Administrator Janet Petro expressed excitement about this mission. She highlighted the importance of the Crew-10 flight in supporting future exploration missions, including trips to the Moon and Mars. This collaboration between NASA and SpaceX is a crucial step for the U.S. to maintain its leadership in space exploration.
During the flight, both SpaceX and NASA will oversee the mission. SpaceX will manage spacecraft maneuvers from its control center in California. NASA will keep an eye on ISS operations from Houston.
Once Crew-10 docks with the station, they will undergo a brief transition period before starting their research tasks. The ISS crew will temporarily increase to 11 astronauts as Crew-10 arrives. After some overlap, four of the current crew members, including Nick Hague and Suni Williams, will return to Earth around March 19.
Crew-10’s scientific goals include studying material flammability, which will help improve future spacecraft designs. The astronauts will also interact with students worldwide through the ISS Ham Radio program and will test a new navigation method for lunar missions. One crew member will participate in a study focused on the physical and mental changes astronauts face during long missions.
For over 24 years, the ISS has been a hub for research and technology advancement. The work done there not only benefits space exploration but also has real-world applications on Earth. Ongoing research paves the way for future missions as NASA looks to deepen our understanding of space.
McClain, the commander of this mission, is returning to the ISS for her second time. She was chosen as an astronaut in 2013. Ayers, the pilot, is flying for the first time and was selected in 2021. Onishi, who has previous experience in space, and Peskov, making his first trip, round out the team.
This mission builds on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which fosters partnerships with private companies to enhance space exploration capabilities. For more information about the Crew-10 mission and NASA’s ongoing efforts, you can visit their official page here.
As interest in space exploration continues to grow, these missions inspire people around the world, sparking dreams of future space travel.
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Source linkCommercial Crew, Humans in Space, International Space Station (ISS), Kennedy Space Center
