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SpaceX Capsule Delivers Astronauts to ISS, Paving Way for Crew Return
Successful Docking After 29-Hour Journey
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully delivered four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday as part of NASA’s latest crew rotation mission. The Crew-10 mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday at 7:03 p.m. ET and docked with the ISS at 12:04 a.m. ET (0404 GMT) on Sunday after a 29-hour journey.
Welcoming the New Crew
The arriving astronauts were greeted by the ISS’s current seven-member crew, which includes NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The two have been aboard the station for an extended stay following complications with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which required it to return to Earth without them.
Return Plan for Wilmore and Williams
Wilmore and Williams are set to return to Earth on Wednesday at approximately 4 a.m. ET (0800 GMT). They will depart aboard a Crew Dragon capsule along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Hague and Gorbunov arrived at the ISS in September on a Crew Dragon craft that was left docked with two empty seats to accommodate Wilmore and Williams’ eventual return.
Crew-10’s Six-Month Mission
The Crew-10 team, which will remain on the ISS for approximately six months, consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They will conduct scientific research, maintenance, and other essential duties aboard the station.
Life Aboard the ISS
Despite their extended stay, Wilmore and Williams have continued contributing to ongoing scientific research and maintenance tasks. Williams expressed her eagerness to return home, mentioning her excitement about reuniting with her family and pets.
This crew rotation mission marks another step in ensuring the continuity of operations aboard the ISS, facilitating safe and efficient transitions for astronauts between Earth and space.
“SpaceX Capsule Delivers Astronauts to ISS, Paving Way for Crew Return” “SpaceX Capsule Delivers Astronauts to ISS, Paving Way for Crew Return”