SpaceX’s Crew-10 Astronauts Begin Journey Home After ISS Mission

The astronauts from SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission are set to return to Earth today, August 7, 2024. The Crew Dragon capsule, named Endurance, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 12:05 p.m. EDT (16:05 GMT), with a splashdown anticipated approximately 24 hours later.

For those interested in witnessing the event, NASA will provide a live stream starting at 9:45 a.m. EDT (13:45 GMT). The coverage will focus on the closing of the hatches between Endurance and the ISS, expected to occur at 10:20 a.m. EDT (14:20 GMT). Following a brief intermission, coverage will resume at 11:45 a.m. EDT (15:45 GMT), just 20 minutes before the undocking process begins.

The capsule is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California, at 11:58 a.m. EDT (15:58 GMT) on August 8. Should all proceed as planned, a post-landing press conference is slated for 1:30 p.m. EDT (17:30 GMT). However, weather conditions in the splashdown area could potentially cause delays.

The Crew-10 mission, which launched on March 14, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, delivered a crew to the ISS two days later. The team includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and Kirill Peskov from Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency. McClain serves as the commander, with Ayers as the pilot, while Onishi and Peskov function as mission specialists.

As part of their journey back, the Crew-10 astronauts participated in a farewell ceremony with the seven other crew members currently aboard the ISS on August 5. During the ceremony, McClain expressed gratitude to the ground teams that supported their mission, stating, “Crew-10 has had the absolute privilege of working here for the last four months.” She further emphasized their role as representatives of humanity, hoping to inspire others about the potential of collaborative efforts in space exploration.

The Crew-11 mission has already replaced the Crew-10 team, with its astronauts arriving at the ISS on August 2, 2024. As preparations for the Crew-10 return continue, the space community eagerly anticipates their safe journey home.