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<\/a><\/figure>Four crew members of NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-10 mission launched at 7:03 p.m. EDT Friday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station\u2019s Harmony module at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. Shortly after docking, the crew will join Expedition 72\/73 for a long-duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations to our NASA and SpaceX teams on the 10th crew rotation mission under our commercial crew partnership. This milestone demonstrates NASA\u2019s continued commitment to advancing American leadership in space and driving growth in our national space economy,\u201d said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro. \u201cThrough these missions, we are laying the foundation for future exploration, from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars. Our international crew will contribute to innovative science research and technology development, delivering benefits to all humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
During Dragon\u2019s flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s live coverage resumes at 9:45 p.m., March 15, on NASA+<\/a> with rendezvous, docking, and hatching opening. After docking, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare cargo for offload before opening the hatch between Dragon and the space station\u2019s Harmony module around 1:05 a.m., Sunday, March 16. Once the new crew is aboard the orbital outpost, NASA will broadcast welcome remarks from Crew-10 and farewell remarks from the agency\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 crew, beginning at about 1:40 a.m.<\/p>\n Learn how to watch NASA content<\/a> through a variety of platforms, including social media.<\/p>\n The number of crew aboard the space station will increase to 11 for a short time as Crew-10 joins NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Don Pettit, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. Following a brief handover period, Hague, Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov will return to Earth no earlier than Wednesday, March 19.Ahead of Crew-9\u2019s departure from station, mission teams will review weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n During their mission, Crew-10 is scheduled to conduct material flammability tests to contribute to future spacecraft and facility designs. The crew will engage with students worldwide via the ISS Ham Radio program and use the program\u2019s existing hardware<\/a> to test a backup lunar navigation solution. The astronauts also will serve as test subjects, with one crew member conducting an integrated study to better understand physiological and psychological changes to the human body to provide valuable insights for future deep space missions.<\/p>\n With this mission, NASA continues to maximize the use of the orbiting laboratory, where people have lived and worked continuously for more than 24 years, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to operate future commercial destinations in low Earth orbit and explore farther from our home planet. Research conducted at the space station benefits people on Earth and paves the way for future long-duration missions to the Moon under NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign and beyond.<\/p>\n More about Crew-10<\/strong> Ayers is the pilot of Crew-10 and is flying her first mission. Selected as an astronaut in 2021, Ayers will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72\/73. Follow Ayers<\/a> on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Onishi is a mission specialist for Crew-10 and is making his second flight to the space station. He will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72\/73. Follow Onishi<\/a> on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n Peskov is a mission specialist for Crew-10 and is making his first flight to the space station. Peskov will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72\/73.<\/p>\n Learn more about NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-10 mission and the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Program at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Josh Finch \/ Jimi Russell Steven Siceloff \/ Stephanie Plucinsky Kenna Pell \/ Sandra Jones
McClain is the commander of Crew-10 and is making her second trip to the orbital outpost since her selection as an astronaut in 2013. She will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72\/73 aboard the space station. Follow McClain<\/a> on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ james.j.russell@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-867-2468
steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ stephanie.n.plucinsky@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kenna.m.pell@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n