In a long-awaited mission, NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully launched Crew-10 to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, finally paving the way for the return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck in space for over nine months due to technical issues in their Starliner capsule.

On Sunday, the Crew-10 astronauts officially arrived at the ISS as SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at 12:04 am ET (9:34 am IST). Their arrival was marked by a stunning orbital sunrise, symbolizing a fresh start for the crew aboard the station.

Mission Breakdown: Crew-10 Takes Over the ISS

The mission began on March 14, when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying four astronauts who would replace Wilmore and Williams on the ISS.

Upon arrival, Crew-10 underwent routine leak checks and pressurization before entering the space station. The final approach for docking started at 9:30 am IST, and the process was successfully completed at 9:40 am IST.

After an hour of final preparations, the hatch was opened at 11:05 am IST, and the Crew-10 astronauts embraced their fellow Expedition 72 crew members in zero gravity.

New Faces on the ISS

The Crew-10 team replacing Wilmore and Williams consists of:

• Kirill Peskov (Russia - Roscosmos)
• Nichole Ayers (Pilot - NASA)
• Anne McClain (Commander - NASA)
• Takuya Onishi (Mission Specialist - JAXA, Japan)

The four astronauts will spend six months aboard the ISS, bringing the total number of astronauts on the station to 11.

Speaking about their arrival, Commander Anne McClain shared her excitement:

“Crew-10 has had a great journey, about 28 hours to get to the space station. The joy of our crew when we saw the ISS for the first time was immense.”

Meanwhile, Takuya Onishi of JAXA expressed gratitude towards all agencies involved in making the mission possible:

“From the bottom of my heart, thanks to our families, friends, and colleagues at NASA, SpaceX, CSA, ISSA, Roscosmos, and JAXA for preparing us for this journey.”

Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore: A Return Long Overdue

After an unexpected nine-month delay, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth on Wednesday (March 20).

Why Were They Stuck in Space?

Originally, their mission on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was planned to last just eight days. However, during their approach to the ISS, five of the 28 thrusters failed, forcing them to remain on the station indefinitely.

The situation raised concerns over their physical health, especially after recent images of Williams showed significant weight loss due to prolonged time in microgravity.

Despite the challenges, Williams and Wilmore adapted to the situation, spending their extended stay conducting:

• Scientific research
• Routine maintenance on the ISS
• Daily astronaut exercises to maintain muscle mass

Speaking about her ordeal earlier this month, Williams said she was eager to return home:

“I can’t wait to see my two dogs and my family. It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably more than for us.”

A Political Controversy: Trump & Musk Blame the Biden Administration

The delay in bringing back Williams and Wilmore also took a political turn, with Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk accusing the Biden administration of leaving the astronauts stranded for political reasons.

Trump’s team claimed that NASA had delayed the rescue mission unnecessarily, despite SpaceX having offered a dedicated Dragon mission for their return last year. However, NASA maintained that the two astronauts were required to stay to maintain staffing levels at the ISS.

What Happens Next?

Williams and Wilmore’s Return Timeline

• Departure: Wednesday, March 20, at 4:00 am ET (1:30 pm IST)
• Accompanied by:
  • NASA astronaut Nick Hague
  • Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov

They will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which is designed for autonomous docking and re-entry.

NASA’s Statement on the Mission

NASA’s acting Administrator, Janet Petro, congratulated the mission team for their successful rotation and return plan:

“This milestone demonstrates NASA’s continued commitment to advancing American leadership in space and driving growth in our national space economy.”

A Journey Full of Challenges

The unexpected extension of Williams and Wilmore’s mission has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. What was meant to be an eight-day stay turned into a nine-month-long test of endurance, pushing them beyond what they had initially signed up for.

Their safe return will mark a major relief for NASA, SpaceX, and their families, and also highlight the unpredictable nature of space missions.

With Crew-10 now onboard, the ISS will continue its operations as the astronauts adjust, research, and prepare for future space explorations.

For Williams and Wilmore, home is just a few days away.