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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10
The 11th flight of the dragon spacecraft with people as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program. … As a virtual guest, you have access to curated resources, schedule changes, and mission specific information delivered straight to your inbox. Join us! … Experience the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Mission
NASA Crew-10 new launch date expedites return of Starliner astronauts
NASA moved up the launch of Crew-10 to March 12 to return the Starliner astronauts home sooner.Crew-10 will now launch on Crew Dragon Endurance,which was originally assigned to the Axiom 4 mission.
Experience the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Mission
This will be the 14th time a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by a Falcon 9 rocket takes crews to the orbital laboratory. Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission is targeted for no earlier than February 2025 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. The launch will carry NASA astronauts Anne McClain, commander, and Nichole Ayers, pilot …
[Source](https://www.nasa.gov/general/experience-the-launch-of-nasas-spacex-crew-…nearly ten-month stay on the ISS. The pair arrived to the orbital lab aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in june of last year — three months before their current Crew-9 companions did — and have been faced with a longer-than-expected because their Starliner capsule had to return to Earth without them due to technical issues.
Starliner’s crewed flight test (CFT) with Williams and Wilmore was only supposed to last about 10 days — but thruster malfunctions during the craft’s ISS approach and docking procedures prompted NASA to extend the astronauts’ stay while the issues were investigated. In August, the agency officially decided to fly Starliner back to Earth uncrewed because those complications weren’t fully resolved; the Starliner astronauts’ mission plans therefore had to shift.
As such, the Crew-9 Dragon that was scheduled to arrive shortly following Starliner’s departure experienced a change in manifest. Only two of the four astronauts scheduled to fly aboard Crew-9 would launch to the space station, leaving two open seats for Williams and Wilmore on the return trip. Crew-9to Earth using one of these spacecraft. The situation was not as dire as it was being portrayed,and the astronauts were never truly abandoned. The media’s sensationalism and the political context added to the drama, but the reality was that the astronauts were always accounted for and had viable means of return.This incident highlights the importance of accurate reporting and the impact of political narratives on public perception.The Biden administration left them there so long.
At the time, NASA assured that the agency and SpaceX were “expeditiously working to safely return the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts…as soon as practical, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions.”
Now, Crew-10 is headed to space earlier than expected.
Rather than wait for SpaceX to finish manufacturing a new Dragon capsule for Crew-10, NASA decided to launch the mission on a flight-proven spacecraft — in this case, crew Dragon Endurance. The decision, NASA said in Tuesday’s release, was made as the new spacecraft faced additional processing time to finish the vehicle’s interior and pass qualification checks for operation. Endurance also flew SpaceX’s Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions, so readying the vehicle for flight is expected to take less time than the new Dragon’s completion.Between now and Crew-10’s new target launch date of March 12, Endurance must undergo refurbishment, trunk stacking, propellant loading, and transportation to SpaceX’s Launch Complex-39A hangar at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, for booster integration.
“human spaceflight is full of unexpected challenges,” said NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stitch in the statement. ”We greatly benefit from SpaceX’s commercial efforts and their proactive approach in having another spacecraft ready for us to assess and use in support of Crew-10.”
Aboard Endurance for the Crew-10 launch will be NASA astronaut and mission commander Anne McClain, NASA astronaut and pilot Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace agency) astronaut and mission specialist Takuya onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. After a typical handoff period of a few days while ISS residents help the new crew get acclimated, Crew-9 will board their own Crew Dragon, freedom, and prepare for departure.
Williams, Wilmore, hague, and Gorbunov will fly back to Earth likely sometime toward the end of March. When they do,weather permitting,they are scheduled to splashdown at one of several possible locations off the coast of Florida.
Expert Interview: SpaceX’s launch Complex-39A and ISS Crew-10 mission
Table of Contents
- Expert Interview: SpaceX’s launch Complex-39A and ISS Crew-10 mission
- John: Dr. Emily, can you provide us with an overview of the SpaceX mission leading up to the Crew-10 launch?
- John: What does the makeup of the Crew-10 team signify in terms of international cooperation?
- John: how do the Crew-9 astronauts prepare for their journey back to Earth?
- John: What is the importance of splashdown locations for Crew-9?
A conversation with space industry specialist Dr. Emily Hernandez
John: Dr. Emily, can you provide us with an overview of the SpaceX mission leading up to the Crew-10 launch?
Emily:
SpaceX’s mission to launch Complex-39A includes rigorous preparations and integration processes. This mission, known as Crew-10, represents a critically important milestone in human spaceflight collaboration. It involves not only NASA but also the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) and Roscosmos.
SpaceX has positioned a second spacecraft ready for assessment to considerably boost our mission readiness. this strategic move reflects SpaceX’s proactive commercial approach, which ultimately benefits NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme.
John: What does the makeup of the Crew-10 team signify in terms of international cooperation?
Emily:
The Crew-10 team is a testament to the growing international cooperation in space. The crew comprises astronauts from various space agencies—NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos. NASA‘s Anne McClain leads as commander, overseeing a specialized mission with `JAXA` astronaut Takuya Onishi and a cosmonaut from `Roscosmos`, Kirill Peskov. This diversity strengthens the global unity in space exploration and scientific research.
John: how do the Crew-9 astronauts prepare for their journey back to Earth?
Emily:
preparation for return to Earth is a meticulous process involving checklists, system reviews, and exhaustive training. During the handing-over period from Crew-10, Crew-9 will transition to the Crew Dragon named `Freedom`. they will go thru deorbit maneuvers to safely disengage from the ISS, followed by a re-entry profile that’s carefully calculated for a safe splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.
John: What is the importance of splashdown locations for Crew-9?
Emily:
Splashdown locations are strategically selected to ensure fast reaction times from rescue teams and minimize any potential safety risks. The diverse locations off the Florida coast are chosen to optimize conditions for a smooth recovery, considering factors like weather and water currents.
John: Thank you,Dr. Emily, for offering such detailed insight into this mission. What do you believe are the main takeaways for the future of human spaceflight?
Emily:
The future of human spaceflight is bright, driven by international cooperation and innovative technologies. These missions highlight the collective progress we’ve made,with SpaceX leading the next era of commercial space travel. By preparing for and addressing unexpected challenges proactively, we pave the way for thrilling future endeavors in space exploration and scientific finding.
