NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission successfully lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 14, at 7:03 pm EDT (4:33 am IST on March 15). The mission marks another significant step in advancing long-duration space research.
Aboard the Dragon spacecraft are four astronauts: NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov. They are en route to the International Space Station (ISS) for an extended research expedition.
Liftoff of Crew-10! pic.twitter.com/OOLMFQgA52
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2025
The Crew-10 spacecraft is expected to autonomously dock at the station’s Harmony module on March 15 at around 11:30 pm EDT (9 am IST on Sunday, March 16). Upon arrival, the team will integrate with Expedition 72/73 for a long-term stay. The mission involves extensive scientific research and assisting in station operations, contributing significantly to ongoing space studies.
Meet the Crew-10 Astronauts
Anne McClain (NASA, USA)
Anne McClain, a veteran astronaut and US Army colonel, is on her second journey to space. Chosen by NASA in 2013, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point, along with master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering, International Security, and Strategic Studies. McClain boasts over 2,000 flight hours in 20 different aircraft. Her first mission, Expeditions 58 and 59, saw her spending 204 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and completing two spacewalks.
Nichole Ayers (NASA, USA)
SpaceX Crew-10 mission marks Nichole Ayers’ debut in space. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, she is a major in the US Air Force and the first in her astronaut class to receive a flight assignment. Ayers holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Russian and a master’s in Computational and Applied Mathematics. As a skilled pilot, she has logged over 1,400 flight hours, including more than 200 in combat.
Takuya Onishi (JAXA, Japan)
Representing JAXA, Onishi is on his second mission to the ISS. Selected in 2009, he previously served during Expeditions 48 and 49. Onishi has contributed to significant research activities, including integrating the Cygnus spacecraft and enhancing the Kibo laboratory module. Before his astronaut career, he flew over 3,700 hours as a pilot with All Nippon Airways.
Kirill Peskov (Roscosmos, Russia)
This is the first spaceflight for Kirill Peskov. Selected as a cosmonaut in 2018, Peskov has a solid background in aviation and engineering. He previously served as a co-pilot on a Boeing aircraft and has undergone rigorous cosmonaut training, including zero-gravity simulations and survival exercises.
Sunita Williams and Crew-9’s upcoming return
Crew-10’s arrival will pave the way for the return of Crew-9 astronauts, including NASA’s Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, along with Nick Hague and Roscosmos’ Aleksandr Gorbunov. The handover will ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. Williams and Wilmore, who initially planned a 10-day mission in June 2024, have extended their stay to nearly 10 months due to technical delays. Their long-awaited return to Earth is now scheduled after the successful onboarding of Crew-10.
The Crew-10 mission underscores the importance of international cooperation in space exploration. The astronauts will engage in various scientific experiments and station maintenance, further advancing humanity’s understanding of life in microgravity and contributing to future long-duration missions.