NASA has announced a change in its Crew-10 mission plans, opting to use a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule instead of a new one. By making this decision, the astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been onboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, have the option to come back to Earth a bit sooner than planned.
The target launch and return dates of future crews rotation missions have been expedited by the US space agency. Originally planned for 25th March, crew-10 launch is now rescheduled to 12th March, subject to mission readiness and completion of NASA’s flight readiness process certification.
SpaceX’s ‘Endurance’ Capsule to Be Used
Production delays for a new capsule, so NASA’s mission management teams decided to use the ‘Endurance’ capsule, a flown SpaceX Crew Dragon. Teams are required to execute Dragon’s refurbishment and prepare the spacecraft for flight, which includes trunk stack, propellant loading, and move to SpaceX’s 39A hangar at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to mate with the Falcon 9 rocket, NASA said.
The Crew-9 mission will remain on board the ISS for a limited time after Crew-10 arrival to finish a handover sequence. Once that is done, NASA and SpaceX will prepare for the return of Crew-9 astronauts, including Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their return will, however, be contingent on weather conditions at splashdown sites to be used off the coast of Florida.
Challenges in Human Spaceflight
Williams and Wilmore flew to the ISS on board Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024. However, the spacecraft encountered multiple technical issues, including a helium leak. During a stay on the space station (ISS), Williams has been station commander.
NASA did not explicitly link the Crew-10 capsule change to the early return of the Starliner crew. Yet, this decision comes after an unanticipated request last month from former United States president Donald Trump, who has requested SpaceX ceo, Elon Musk, to return Williams and Wilmore “as soon as could be done. Trump also called for an end to their mission.
NASA then reiterated that the astronauts’ return would occur “sooner rather than later” [20]. Referring to the changing dynamic, Steve Stich, NASA Commercial Crew Program manager, stated, “Human spaceflight is replete with unforeseen difficulties. He said, “Operational versatility is provided by the incredible collaboration between NASA and SpaceX and SpaceX’s continued demonstrated capability to respond speedily to the agency’s evolving requirements.
Crew-10 Mission Details
In order to maintain ISS permanent crew at a normal level after Crew-9 go home Crew-10 mission will be implemented. Members of the team are NASA astronauts Anne McClain (commander) and Nichole Ayers (pilot), JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi (mission specialist), and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov (mission specialist).
Upon arrival, the Crew-9 team will help them with further scientific research and station upkeep and then get ready for their trip back to the Earth.
