Crew-10 Launch: NASA and SpaceX Set for Astronauts’ Journey to ISS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA is less than 24 hours away from launching its SpaceX Crew-10 mission, which will transport a four-member crew to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 7:48 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

NASA and SpaceX officials successfully completed the Launch Readiness Review, marking the final check before countdown procedures begin. Steve Stich, manager of the NASA Commercial Crew Program, praised the collaborative efforts, stating, “Over the past six weeks, the joint NASA, SpaceX team has displayed remarkable dedication, adaptability, and expertise in delivering on a unique and challenging mission.”

The Crew-10 team consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain (commander) and Nichole Ayers (pilot), along with Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Kirill Peskov from Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. They will fly aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Endurance, previously used for Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions.

Live coverage of the launch will start at 3:45 p.m. EDT, showcasing the team’s ascent into space. With a better than 95% chance of favorable weather predicted by U.S. Space Force officials, anticipation is building for the launch. Stormy conditions over the Atlantic coast could pose challenges, but teams are prepared to adapt.

Upon arrival at the ISS, Crew-10 will conduct a brief handover with the current scheduled crew from Crew-9, which facilitates the transition of ongoing science and maintenance operations. Following this, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are set to return home.

The Crew-10 astronauts will engage in multiple scientific experiments, including material flammability tests and studies on human physiological and psychological changes in space, crucial for future deep space missions. “This mission is essential for understanding how to support humans on longer spaceflights,” Stitch added.

Recent delays in the Crew-10 mission, due to technical issues with the fifth Crew Dragon spacecraft, led NASA to utilize the flight-proven Endurance instead. Auxiliary testing confirmed the spacecraft’s readiness, despite prior concerns regarding thruster degradation.

The launch follows the investigations into a recent fuel leak that resulted in a fire during a previous mission, raising discussions about safety and preparations. NASA has maintained transparency regarding these findings, combining various data to authorize the upcoming crewed launch.

As the countdown to liftoff continues, preparations are underway for the subsequent return of Crew-9, which has faced extended stays aboard the ISS due to Starliner’s technical difficulties. The decision to bring only Crew-9 back resulted from safety concerns, which have been publicly underscored amid rising political discourse.

“You do what’s right for the team, and what was right for the team is to stay up here,” said astronaut Suni Williams during a CBS interview, countering notions of being ‘abandoned’ in space.

The impending Crew-10 mission represents not only a routine astronaut transfer but also encapsulates larger themes of resilience and collaboration in modern space exploration.