SpaceX Crew-10 Docks at ISS, Paving Way for Crew-9 Return

The Crew-10 mission marks a critical step in ISS operations, as Crew-9 prepares for departure and Boeing's Starliner remains under scrutiny.

SpaceX's Crew-10 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on March 16, 29 hours after launching from Kennedy Space Center.
The Crew-10 team includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, who will spend six months aboard the ISS.
The arrival facilitates the return of Crew-9, including NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the ISS since June following issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
NASA and Boeing are still addressing technical challenges with the Starliner, including thruster degradation and helium leaks, with certification for crewed missions potentially delayed until late 2025 or early 2026.
Despite recent speculation from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk about deorbiting the ISS by 2027, NASA maintains its commitment to operating the station through 2030, contingent on international collaboration and commercial space station readiness.