NASA is all set to launch its next crew to the space station, paving the way for Starliner astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams to return to Earth after more than nine months in space. Crew 10, consisting of commander Anne McClain, pilot Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, is scheduled for launch from historic pad 39 at the Kennedy Space Center at 7:48 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. They are expected to dock at the space station on Thursday at 6 a.m.
The Crew 10 crew members, seen in a selfie during training, are eager to join the space station. They will be welcomed aboard by Crew 9 commander Nick Hague, cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, Wilmore, Williams, and others. Following a two-day briefing on space station operations, Crew 9 will depart on March 16, and Crew 10 will take over.
While the focus has been on the Starliner astronauts, McClain and her crew are prepared for their mission. McClain and Onishi are experienced space station crew members, while Ayers and Peskov are embarking on their first spaceflight. The crew members, all former military or commercial pilots, are ready to conduct maintenance, experiments, spacewalks, and host private astronaut missions.
The return of Wilmore and Williams is highly anticipated, with McClain looking forward to reuniting with them. The commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, praises the Starliner astronauts for their exceptional work and expresses excitement about their return. If all goes according to plan, the Crew 9 astronauts could land as early as March 17 after spending 285 days in space.
Two astronauts, Hague and Gorbunov, are currently in space for a 170-day mission, with their flight originally planned to last over a week. The U.S. record for the longest single spaceflight is held by astronaut Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in space due to issues with the Soyuz spacecraft. The crew rotation, meant to replace four members on the space station, has become a political spectacle, criticized by President Trump and Elon Musk blaming the Biden administration for the situation. Musk claimed to have offered to retrieve Wilmore and Williams earlier but was turned down, though it’s unclear by whom. Despite Trump’s comments about getting the astronauts back, Crew Dragon will not be bringing them home, as it is scheduled for another mission. Crew 9, including Wilmore and Williams, will return to Earth aboard their Crew Dragon, which has been docked at the station for the past five-and-a-half months. NASA chose not to bring Crew 9 back earlier to maintain operations on the space station and ensure safety in emergencies. Wilmore and Williams emphasized that they do not feel abandoned in space and are well-prepared for their mission.
NASA’s preparation for all possible scenarios is thorough and adaptable. Let’s shift the focus from ‘narrative’ to ‘being prepared’ and ‘dedicated.’ Therefore, the plan to safely bring the Starliner astronauts back to Earth has been meticulously planned by NASA since last August. Despite criticism from the president towards the Biden administration for the prolonged mission, NASA managers have chosen not to engage in public disputes. They have also downplayed responses to questions regarding Elon Musk’s claim of offering to send another Crew Dragon to rescue the astronauts.
In August, Stich addressed the possibility of launching a dedicated mission to retrieve the Starliner crew, mentioning that the agency had not seriously considered this option. Instead, they explored alternatives such as integrating the astronauts into ongoing Crew missions. The decision was made to maintain the crew on the International Space Station until a suitable return opportunity arose.
The Starliner encountered technical difficulties during its mission, including propulsion system leaks and underperforming maneuvering jets. NASA conducted extensive tests to ensure the spacecraft’s safety for the astronauts’ return. Despite Boeing’s confidence in resolving the issues by August, NASA opted to delay the crew’s return and await the next available Crew Dragon mission.
The astronauts, Wilmore and Williams, accepted the extended mission with understanding and professionalism, acknowledging the nature of test flights and the importance of teamwork. They remained committed to their duties as expedition crew members aboard the space station.
In September, Boeing successfully brought the Starliner back to Earth via remote control, while NASA launched the Crew 9 mission on a Crew Dragon with two crew members, Hague and Gorbunov, along with two empty seats.
Seats were reserved for astronauts Wilmore and Williams on the Starliner spacecraft. Originally, they were part of the Crew 9 expedition and were scheduled to return to Earth in February after the arrival of the next Crew Dragon in the rotation sequence. However, the launch of Crew 10’s new Dragon vehicle faced delays, pushing Crew 9’s return to the end of March.
NASA decided to switch Crew 10 to a different Dragon, allowing for a launch on March 12, a few weeks earlier than the initial late March plan. This decision was not influenced by external pressures, according to Stich, who stated that the change was driven by various factors considered before any public statements were made by the President or Mr. Musk.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s chief of spaceflight operations, confirmed that discussions about juggling flights and switching capsules had been ongoing within NASA well before any external discussions. The President’s interest added momentum to the conversation, highlighting the administration’s positive engagement in space activities.
In other news, a judge blocked the deportation of a pro-Palestinian activist involved in leading protests at Columbia University. Additionally, the House’s short-term spending bill is now heading to the Senate, with passage needed by Friday to prevent a government shutdown. Discussions are also underway regarding Ukraine’s willingness to accept a 30-day ceasefire.
