SpaceX Crew-10 docks at ISS, clearing way for astronauts' return

A SpaceX capsule has delivered four astronauts to the ISS for NASA’s latest crew rotation, allowing Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return after nine months stranded due to a faulty Boeing Starliner capsule. Their scheduled departure on Wednesday has drawn political attention.

A SpaceX capsule successfully transported four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) early on Sunday as part of NASA’s latest crew rotation mission. This arrival paves the way for two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to finally return to Earth after spending nine months aboard the station due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.

The Crew-10 astronauts launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03 p.m. ET on Friday and reached the ISS approximately 29 hours later, docking at 12:04 a.m. ET (0404 GMT) on Sunday. They were welcomed by the station’s seven-member crew, which includes Wilmore and Williams – experienced NASA astronauts and former Navy test pilots. The pair had remained on the ISS after the Starliner capsule encountered technical problems, requiring NASA to return it to Earth without passengers.

Although the Crew-10 mission was originally planned as a standard crew rotation, it has become a key step in bringing Wilmore and Williams home. NASA had outlined a plan for their return last year, but the effort has gained further momentum since President Donald Trump took office in January.

Wilmore and Williams are expected to depart the ISS on Wednesday at approximately 4 a.m. ET (0800 GMT), alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Hague and Gorbunov arrived at the ISS in September aboard a Crew Dragon capsule, which was sent with two spare seats in preparation for Wilmore and Williams’ return. That spacecraft has remained docked to the station in anticipation of their journey home.

The newly arrived Crew-10 team, set to stay on the ISS for about six months, consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.

The crew swap has drawn political attention, with Trump and his adviser, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, advocating for a swift Crew-10 launch. They suggested that Wilmore and Williams’ prolonged stay resulted from delays under the previous administration, though no official evidence supports this claim.

Despite the debate, Wilmore and Williams have remained focused on their work, continuing scientific research and maintenance duties alongside their colleagues. Speaking to reporters earlier this month, Williams shared her excitement about returning home to her family and two dogs. "It’s been a rollercoaster for them – probably even more so than for us," she remarked.

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