Sunita Williams’ Homecoming: Musk's SpaceX Launches Crew-10 Mission to Rescue 'Stranded' NASA Astronauts From ISS | WATCH

Washington DC: Elon Musk's SpaceX has successfully launched the Crew-10 mission on Saturday, March 15, to send four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and bring NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth after being stranded in space for over eight months due to critical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

Launch Details:

The Crew-10 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket occurred at 7:03 pm EDT (Saturday, 4:33 am IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

What is the Crew-10 Mission and its Objective:

The Crew-10 mission is carrying four astronauts from NASA, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and Roscosmos to the ISS for a six-month mission dedicated to scientific research, technology demonstrations, and space exploration experiments.

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Objectives:

-Conducting more than 200 scientific experiments focused on deep space exploration.  
- Testing the flammability of materials in microgravity to enhance spacecraft safety for future missions.  
- Engaging in educational outreach through ham radio with students.  
- Studying the physiological and psychological effects on astronauts to prepare for future Moon and Mars missions.  

Crew-10 Astronauts:

Anne McClain (NASA)– Mission Commander (Second spaceflight)  

Nichole Ayers (NASA) – Pilot (First spaceflight)  

Takuya Onishi (JAXA) – Mission Specialist (Second spaceflight)  

Kirill Peskov (Roscosmos) – Mission Specialist (First spaceflight)  

Why Are Williams and Wilmore Stranded in Space?

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were originally part of Boeing's Starliner mission, which launched in June 2024 for an eight-day mission. However, due to propulsion leaks and thruster malfunctions, their return was delayed multiple times. NASA eventually deemed the Starliner unsafe for re-entry, leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded aboard the ISS for over eight months.  

With the launch of the Crew-10 mission, NASA and SpaceX plan to bring them back home after long delays. This situation has sparked conversations about political interference and engineering failures within Boeing’s Starliner program.

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Once Crew-10 reaches the ISS, NASA will evaluate weather conditions before authorizing the return of Williams and Wilmore to Earth. If everything goes according to plan, their long-awaited journey back will begin within a few days.  

NASA has confirmed that Sunita and her crew will not return to Earth before March 19.

"I am incredibly proud of our NASA and SpaceX ground engineers, as well as the joint operations teams, for quickly identifying and resolving issues. Their dedication to excellence and safety is a true testament to the strength of this integrated team," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Crew-10's Journey to the ISS

After launch, the Falcon 9 rocket will propel the Dragon "Endurance" spacecraft to a speed of 17,500 mph, reaching orbit in just minutes. The spacecraft will then autonomously dock with the ISS Harmony module 24 hours after launch. In case of emergency, the crew can manually pilot the spacecraft.