Crew-10 Mission: NASA and SpaceX’s new launch schedule, team, how to watch and what we know about Starliner Crew’s return

NASA and SpaceX are preparing for the Crew-10 mission. This mission will carry four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Their arrival will allow the Boeing Starliner crew, who have been in space for over nine months, to return home. The launch was postponed on Wednesday due to an issue with the launchpad’s ground system. NASA has scheduled a new launch attempt for Friday.

New Launch Schedule

NASA announced that Crew-10 could launch no earlier than 7:03 p.m. EST on Friday. The launch will take place at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Crew-10 astronauts will travel aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. A Falcon 9 rocket will propel the spacecraft into orbit before separating. If the launch is successful, the Dragon capsule is expected to dock at the ISS around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.


Also Read: Invincible Season 3: Episode 8 release date, time, where to watch, episode count and what to expect

Crew-10 Mission and Team

The Crew-10 mission is SpaceX’s tenth science rotation mission to the ISS. The four astronauts will live and work at the ISS for about six months. The Crew-10 team includes:

Anne McClain, NASA astronaut, mission commander
Nichole Ayers, NASA astronaut, mission pilot
Takuya Onishi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), mission specialist
Kirill Peskov, Roscosmos cosmonaut, mission specialist

Upon arrival, Crew-10 astronauts will spend a few days adjusting to their new environment. This transition period ensures they understand ongoing research and maintenance work at the ISS.

Also Read: Beauty in Black Season 2: Everything we know about renewal

Starliner Crew’s Return

Wilmore and Williams have been at the ISS for over nine months. They originally arrived on a Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They have been waiting for the arrival of Crew-10 before they can leave.

Crew-9 astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov will also depart the ISS. The four astronauts are scheduled to return no earlier than Wednesday, March 19. They will land in the ocean off the coast of Florida.

How to Watch Launch?

NASA will provide live coverage of the launch. The broadcast begins at 3 p.m. EST on NASA’s streaming service, NASA+. The docking of the Crew-10 capsule will also be available to watch on NASA’s platform.

FAQs

Why was the Crew-10 launch delayed?
NASA postponed the launch due to an issue with the launchpad’s ground system. Engineers needed time to address the problem before rescheduling the mission.

When will the Starliner astronauts return?
Wilmore and Williams are scheduled to leave the ISS with Crew-9 astronauts on March 19. They will return to Earth in a SpaceX Dragon capsule.