Crew-10 Docks at ISS, Preparing for Astronauts’ Return

NASA’s Crew-10 mission successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday morning, marking a significant milestone in the long-delayed return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, arrived at the ISS at 9:40 AM IST, following an accelerated schedule aimed at facilitating the handover process.

The newly arrived team consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov. Their arrival increases the total crew on the space station to 11, ahead of the scheduled departure of Crew-9 astronauts, including Williams, Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Extended Stay and Technical Setbacks

For Williams and Wilmore, this docking marks the end of an unexpectedly extended stay in orbit. The two astronauts initially launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule on June 5, 2024, as part of a short-duration test flight. However, technical malfunctions—including helium leaks and thruster failures—rendered the spacecraft unsafe for their return.

Following extensive investigations into the anomalies, NASA and Boeing decided to return the Starliner capsule to Earth without a crew. As a result, Williams and Wilmore had to remain aboard the ISS for several additional months. NASA had originally planned for their return via SpaceX, but technical issues, including battery repairs on the assigned Dragon capsule, further delayed their journey back until mid-March.

To expedite their return, NASA opted to use a previously flown Dragon capsule for the Crew-10 launch, ensuring a quicker handover process.

Political Repercussions

The prolonged mission became a point of political debate in the United States. Former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk both commented on the delays, with Trump blaming NASA’s operational challenges on the previous administration, while Musk raised concerns about Starliner’s performance.

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With Crew-10 now aboard the ISS, NASA officials are preparing for a swift handover before Williams, Wilmore, and their colleagues begin preparations for their return to Earth. This mission highlights NASA’s ongoing reliance on commercial spaceflight partners, underscoring the importance of private companies like SpaceX in the future of space exploration.