SpaceX is preparing for a Wednesday flight that will not only launch the next crew to the International Space Station (ISS) but also bring back two astronauts who’ve spent more time in orbit than expected.
Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams had originally been anticipated to stay at the ISS for about a week following the conclusion of the initial crewed flight test of Boeing’s Starliner in June of 2024. NASA and Boeing postponed returning Wilmore and Williams, however, because issues were encountered by the Starliner. In September, NASA authorities voted to make Wilmore and Williams stay aboard the ISS through the arrival of Crew-10 on board SpaceX’s Dragon vehicle, now projected to fly.
The two astronauts have supplemented the ongoing Crew-9 mission by conducting research and doing other tasks on the ISS. However, as NASA put it, they were also depleting supplies reserved for the station’s primary crew. This served to delay their return, as Crew-9’s six-month stint had to be completed first before Crew-10 could take over.
The Crew-10 mission is now scheduled to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:26 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with a second launch window later Thursday, March 13, at the same time. The crew will consist of two NASA astronauts, one JAXA astronaut from Japan, and one Roscosmos astronaut from Russia. The mission will be another milestone for SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Wilmore and Williams have expressed no disappointment at the extended stay, with Wilmore affirming the importance of pushing boundaries in space exploration. Despite the challenges, he and Williams have been positive throughout the mission, with Wilmore acknowledging that NASA planning has enabled the extended stay to be achieved.
SpaceX is live-streaming the launch on its website and social media channels an hour and 20 minutes before launch. NASA coverage will also be streamed through their X account. The Crew-10 mission will continue to conduct research for long-term human space exploration and enrich life on Earth.
