SpaceX Crew-10 Successfully Docks at International Space Station, Sunita Williams To Return Soon

Elon Musk's SpaceX has successfully launched the Crew-10 mission from Florida on Saturday, March 15, to send four astronauts- Anne C. McClain and Nichole Ayers of NASA, Takuya Onishi of Japan, and Kirill Peskov of Russia to the International Space Station (ISS).

These four astronauts will replace NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for over eight months due to critical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

In an interview with PTI, retired professor in space physics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mayank Vahia says, “... Sunita Williams is amongst the first astronauts ever to be rescued from a space accident. The space capsule, which took them nine months ago, had too many problems… What saved Sunita Williams is that there was a space station where they could sit, because the vehicle that went up took them there, which was supported to bring them back, had problems, that vehicle has to be brought back empty. NASA has to prepare another vehicle. Four astronauts went up in that vehicle. They will replace astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmor (at the ISS).”

Williams and Butch Wilmore will depart on March 19 alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital class reusable rocket. Reusability allows SpaceX to refly the most expensive parts of the rocket, which in turn drives down the cost of space access.

The Crew-10 crew is scheduled to conduct material flammability tests to contribute to future spacecraft and facility designs. The team will use its existing hardware to test a backup lunar navigation solution. 

Sunita Williams looked excited after meeting crew-10 at International Space center, "Thank you for joining in this early morning—it was a wonderful day, great to see our friends arrive. Thank you so much!"

Expedition 72 flight controllers led by NASA Flight Director Allison Bolinger during docking of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the space station. Allison Bolinger, hails from Ohio and began her career at NASA as an intern in 2001.

Falcon 9 completes three missions in 13 hours, launching four astronauts to the space station, 74 rideshare payloads to orbit, and adding 23 Starlink satellites to the constellation.

The SpaceX Crew10 members joined the station's Exp 72 crew after the hatch opened at 12:35am ET on Sunday beginning a long-duration space research mission.

Watch Live: The SpaceX Crew10 members enter the space station and join the Exp 72 crew for a long-duration space research mission. 

SpaceX and NASA launched a mission to bring back US astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the ISS, where they have been stranded for nine months. The lift-off took place at 7:03 ET on Friday, with a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft on the Crew-10 mission.

After SpaceX Dragon's link-up to the forward facing port of the station's Harmony module, the crew members aboard Dragon and the space station will start conducting standard leak checks and pressurization between the spacecraft and the station in preparation for a hatch opening scheduled for approximately 1:45 am (US time) on Sunday. 

Crew-10 will join the Expedition 72 crew of NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Don Petitt, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore and Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner, according to the statement released by NASA. The number of crew aboard the space station will rise to 11 people before Crew-9 members Hague, Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov return to Earth after the crew handover period.

"SpaceX Dragon docks with Space Station," SpaceX Founder and CEO Elon Musk tweets.

Stranded for 9 months at International Space Station (ISS), astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to return to earth on March 19.

Shortly after docking to the Space Station , Crew-10 was welcomed by an orbital sunrise.

"I cannot tell you the immense joy of our crew when we looked out of the window and saw the space station for the first time...," said NASA astronaut and US Army Colonel Anne C. McClain after successfully docking at the ISS.  

Expressing her excitement, McClain added, "You can hardly put it into words. The ride up on the Falcon 9, orbiting Earth for the last couple of days—it has been absolutely incredible. It is something none of us could do by ourselves. You cannot be great without the greatness of others. And the greatness of the ground control team has really shined through in getting us up here safely."  

McClain, a commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission, previously spent 204 days aboard the ISS during Expeditions 58 and 59, completing two spacewalks. Now, as part of Crew-10, she will lead research, technology demonstrations, and maintenance activities aboard the space station.

As Crew-10 members entered the International Space Station after their 28-hour journey, astronaut Sunita Williams expressed her excitement. “Houston, thanks for tuning in early morning. Great to see our friends arrive,” she said, marking the warm welcome for the new crew. 

The docking of SpaceX Crew-10 with the ISS was a milestone, and Williams' reaction highlighted the camaraderie among astronauts aboard the space station.

Astronauts Thank Ground Teams Over The Crew-10 Mission Success

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10, after a 28-hour journey, docked with the International Space Station (ISS), joining the Expedition 72 crew, including NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Don Petitt, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. 

SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission successfully docked at the International Space Station on Sunday morning, setting the stage to finally retrieve the two NASA astronauts who have been stuck in orbit for months.

The Space-X space capsule docked at the ISS at 12:05 a.m. EST Sunday morning after lifting off Friday from Florida. 

US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard arrived in India on Sunday as part of her multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific regions.  

A SpaceX crew capsule arrives at the International Space Station, delivering the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

A federal judge halts deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, an 18th century law that Trump invoked against a Venezuelan gang, just hours earlier.

Violent tornadoes ripped through parts of the U.S., wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several states, part of a monster storm that has killed at least 26 people as more severe weather was expected late Saturday.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering imposing new travel restrictions on citizens from multiple countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, according to Reuters. If implemented, this move could further tighten U.S. immigration policies and impact global travel.  

U.S. President Donald Trump launched large-scale military strikes against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday over the group's attacks against Red Sea shipping, killing at least 24 people at the start of a campaign expected to last many days.

Israel is willing to continue Gaza ceasefire talks, depending on the mediators' response to a US proposal, Netanyahu’s office has stated.  

The proposal calls for the immediate release of 11 living captives and half of those confirmed dead.  

Israeli media reports suggest that 24 captives are believed to be alive in Gaza, while 35 have been confirmed dead.

Israel is ready to resume Gaza ceasefire talks based on the mediators’ response to a US proposal, which includes the release of 11 living captives and half of the deceased, according to Netanyahu’s office.  

Meanwhile, the US has suggested a “bridge” plan to extend the ceasefire until April, providing more time to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict.
 

A video verified by Al Jazeera shows the protesters in Times Square, in the centre of New York, massing in support of the detained Columbia University student.

Yesterday, demonstrators flooded the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City, in a show of solidarity with Khalil.
 

The statement on Truth Social comes as US President Donald Trump announces military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.  

In his message, Trump warned Iran to stop supporting the Houthi rebels immediately. He stated,"To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes."  

He further cautioned, "If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!"  

Meanwhile, the Houthi health ministry reported on X that 20 people were killed and 13 others wounded in US airstrikes on the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. 

At least 20 people have been killed in the latest US airstrikes on Yemen, targeting Houthi-controlled areas, according to local reports.

The United States has launched large-scale airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen after President Donald Trump issued a warning, saying “hell will rain down” if the group continued targeting ships in the Red Sea.

Demonstrators in New York have gathered again to demand the release of Palestinian student Mahmoud Khalil, who is facing deportation for participating in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University. The protests have gained traction, with activists calling for the US to stop cracking down on student movements.

As Israel’s blockade of Gaza enters its third week, Palestinians are struggling to access basic necessities, with a severe water crisis worsening conditions. Many families are relying on contaminated water sources as aid remains restricted.