On March 16, 2025, SpaceX achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing partnership with NASA, successfully docking the Crew-10 mission with the International Space Station (ISS). Launched on March 14 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Crew-10 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule Endurance aimed to relieve NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the ISS since June 2024. Their extended stay, originally planned as an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, was prolonged due to propulsion issues and helium leaks that rendered the Starliner unfit for their return.
The Crew 10 Team.
The Crew-10 team, consisting of NASA astronauts Anne McClain (commander) and Nichole Ayers (pilot), along with mission specialists Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Kirill Peskov from Roscosmos, embarked on a 28-hour orbital journey. The Dragon capsule autonomously docked with the ISS’s Harmony module at 12:04 a.m. ET on March 16, slightly later than the initially targeted 11:30 p.m. ET due to final approach adjustments. The docking process, guided by flashing lights on the ISS, was monitored closely by both the crew and ground teams, ensuring a seamless connection to the orbiting laboratory.
Watch Dragon and Crew-10 dock with the International Space Station.
Wilmore and Williams, alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are now preparing to return to Earth aboard the Crew-9 Dragon capsule, which has been docked at the ISS since September 2024. Their departure, scheduled for March 19, will conclude a nearly 300-day mission for Wilmore and Williams—a significant duration, though not record-breaking compared to historical space missions. The handover ceremony between Crew-9 and Crew-10 marks a critical transition, ensuring the ISS remains fully staffed for ongoing scientific research and maintenance.
The Crew-10 mission faced challenges prior to launch, with initial attempts on March 12 and 13 scrubbed due to a hydraulic system issue and adverse weather conditions, respectively. Despite these setbacks, SpaceX’s rapid operational pace—highlighted by NASA officials as a challenge to keep up with—demonstrated the company’s resilience and capability. The successful launch and docking underscore SpaceX’s pivotal role in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, offering a reliable alternative to Boeing’s beleaguered Starliner.
Political Controversy
The mission also stirred political controversy, with former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claiming the Biden administration had “abandoned” the astronauts. Musk asserted that SpaceX offered an earlier rescue, a claim refuted by astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who clarified that Wilmore and Williams were always scheduled to return with Crew-9. Wilmore himself dismissed political influences on their schedule during a news conference from space, focusing instead on their scientific contributions during the extended stay.
Six Months ISS rotation
Crew-10 is set for a six-month rotation on the ISS, continuing vital research to support future human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. Meanwhile, Wilmore and Williams eagerly anticipate reuniting with family and pets, having endured a “roller coaster” of a mission, as Williams noted.
