SpaceX Crew-10 Astronauts Prepare for Earth Return Today

SpaceX’s Crew-10 astronauts are set to return to Earth today, August 7, 2023, after a successful mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Crew Dragon capsule, named Endurance, will undock from the ISS at 12:05 p.m. EDT (16:05 GMT) and is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean approximately 24 hours later.

NASA will provide live coverage of the undocking process, starting at 9:45 a.m. EDT (13:45 GMT). This broadcast will include the closing of the hatches between Endurance and the ISS, anticipated to take place at 10:20 a.m. EDT (14:20 GMT). Following a short break, the coverage will resume at 11:45 a.m. EDT (15:45 GMT), just 20 minutes prior to the undocking. Viewers can also access the stream on Space.com, contingent upon NASA’s availability.

The return journey will culminate with the splashdown expected on August 8 at 11:58 a.m. EDT (15:58 GMT) off the coast of California. Should the weather conditions in the splashdown zone prove unfavorable, the timeline may be adjusted. A post-landing press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. EDT (17:30 GMT) on August 8, assuming all goes according to plan.

Mission Highlights and Crew Acknowledgment

Crew-10 launched on March 14, 2023, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and arrived at the ISS two days later. The team includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Kirill Peskov of Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos. McClain serves as the mission commander, while Ayers holds the position of pilot, with Onishi and Peskov acting as mission specialists.

On August 5, the Crew-10 members participated in a farewell ceremony with the seven other astronauts currently on the ISS. During the event, McClain expressed gratitude for the support from ground teams and reflected on the mission’s significance.

“We truly are very humbled to represent humanity, and we hope that we can be a reminder to others of the goodness of humanity and what we really can accomplish when we work together,” McClain stated, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of space exploration.

As Crew-10 prepares for their return, the arrival of the four astronauts from SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission on August 2 adds a new dynamic to the ISS. The Crew-11 team will take over responsibilities, ensuring that operations aboard the station continue seamlessly.

Today’s events mark a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between SpaceX and NASA, showcasing advancements in human spaceflight and international collaboration in space exploration. The return of Crew-10 highlights not only the technical achievements of the mission but also the dedication and teamwork that underpin such groundbreaking endeavors.