NASA has announced a new launch date for the SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This decision comes after the agency opted to replace a brand-new Dragon spacecraft with a previously used capsule. The mission, now scheduled for liftoff no earlier than Wednesday, March 12, will see NASA astronaut and mission commander Anne McClain lead a team comprising two other astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut.
The Crew-10 mission will mark a significant transition period onboard the ISS, known as a direct handover, with the current U.S. Orbital Segment (USOS) crew. This transition allows the incoming crew several days to acclimate to the current configuration and operations of the space station. Following this period, the Crew Dragon Freedom will undock to return Crew-9 to Earth, which includes NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
The undocking of Crew-9 will be contingent upon weather conditions off the coast of Florida. This event will be the final Dragon splashdown in that region before recovery operations move to the West Coast. The decision to return Williams and Wilmore as part of Crew-9 was made after issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft prevented their planned return on that vehicle.
The timeline for the Crew-10 mission has been fluid for some time. Initially, NASA targeted a launch date no earlier than February 2025. This mission was also set to debut SpaceX's fifth and final Crew Dragon spacecraft, known as Dragon C213. However, delays in the delivery of this new capsule have necessitated the use of a previously flown Dragon spacecraft, Endurance, for the mission.
SpaceX and NASA have faced several challenges in preparing for the Crew-10 mission. In a recent statement, SpaceX highlighted its efforts to ensure the new Dragon C213 spacecraft would be ready, while also addressing the contingency of using the Dragon Endurance. Steve Stich, Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, emphasized the importance of operational flexibility and the strong partnership between NASA and SpaceX in overcoming unexpected challenges.
The Dragon Endurance was initially intended for Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the ISS. It remains unclear if the new Dragon C213 will now be used for this private astronaut mission. NASA is currently assessing the previously flown hardware of the Endurance to ensure it meets safety and certification requirements.
The latest updates from NASA and SpaceX underline the dynamic nature of human spaceflight and the collaborative efforts required to advance space exploration. As the Crew-10 mission approaches, the focus remains on ensuring safety and mission readiness while adapting to evolving circumstances.
