SpaceX Crew-10 Departs ISS, Making Historic California Splashdown
Crew set for overnight return after 4.5 months aboard orbiting laboratory
After an extended stay of approximately 4.5 months, the four members of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission are preparing to leave the International Space Station (ISS). They will board the Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft for a return journey to Earth, scheduled for splashdown off the California coast on Saturday.
Farewell to Orbit
The crew, including NASA astronauts **Anne McClain** and **Nichole Ayers**, JAXA astronaut **Takuya Onishi**, and Roscosmos cosmonaut **Kirill Peskov**, launched on March 14. Their departure is slated for Friday evening at 6:05 p.m. Eastern time, with their overnight voyage concluding at 11:33 a.m. Saturday.
During a farewell ceremony Tuesday, Crew-10 commander **McClain** expressed deep gratitude for their time on the ISS. As we complete our mission on space station, we really want to lead with gratitude for the absolute privilege of getting to live and work aboard this amazing International Space Station,”
she stated. All of us are keenly aware that we may never get to do this again, and we’ve been very pensive over the last days of understanding what we have all got to be a part of.”
**Ayers**, the first from her 2021 astronaut class, known as The Flies, to reach space, reflected positively on their mission. We got to see some amazing views, and we have had some really big belly laughs and a wonderful time together,”
she shared, adding, Leaving with a heart full of gratitude and excited to see where the International Space Station goes after we get home.”
Crew Handover and Mission Notes
While **McClain** commanded Crew-10, **Onishi** served as the Expedition 73 commander. He passed command to Roscosmos cosmonaut **Sergey Ryzhikov** on Tuesday. The station’s population will decrease from 11 to seven following Crew-10’s departure.
**Onishi** shared his thoughts on the incoming Crew-11. I wish we could spend more time together,”
he commented, But you are in good hands. So I’m sure the second half of Expedition 73 will be even better. … Crew-10 is now leaving, but the science will continue here, because this place is the outpost for human beings to advance our technology and to explore further.”
This mission marks the shortest operational flight for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to date, totaling around 147 days. The previous longest mission, Crew-8, spanned over 235 days.
A New West Coast Landing
The upcoming splashdown in California signifies a notable shift, as this will be the first NASA mission with SpaceX to land on the West Coast. Previous NASA crewed missions using SpaceX Crew Dragons have all concluded with splashdowns off the Florida coast.
SpaceX has opted for the California landing site to manage debris more effectively. The Crew Dragon trunk, previously discarded at higher altitudes, is now jettisoned over the Pacific Ocean during re-entry for safer recovery. SpaceX has already successfully executed two California landings this year for private missions.
**McClain** expressed her appreciation for her family’s support during their extended mission. We’ll see you back soon on the greatest planet in the solar system. We’ve checked,”
she stated. We’ll back to Earth here shortly.”
Programmatic Shifts and Future Missions
Crew-10’s abbreviated mission was influenced by a delay in SpaceX’s final Crew Dragon, necessitating a reshuffling of launch schedules. The mission’s departure also ensures adequate docking capacity for an incoming CRS-33 cargo Dragon, which will feature a new reboost capability for the ISS, a first for SpaceX.
The Crew Dragon Endurance is completing its fourth spaceflight, having debuted in 2021. It leaves behind the Crew-11 mission, currently in the fleet-leading Crew Dragon Endeavour. Crew-11 is expected to remain at the station until next year, with potential for an extended eight-month mission.
The arrival of Crew-10 in March was critical in resolving issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Starliner’s Crew Flight Test in June 2024 experienced helium leaks and propulsion system failures, requiring NASA astronauts **Butch Wilmore** and **Suni Williams** to remain aboard the ISS until a SpaceX flight could accommodate their return.
The Commercial Crew Program, a partnership between NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX, aimed to restore U.S.-based crewed launches following the end of the Space Shuttle Program. SpaceX successfully resumed these flights in 2020 after years of reliance on Russian Soyuz missions.
Since its inaugural Demo-2 flight, SpaceX has conducted 19 missions with its Crew Dragon fleet, transporting 74 astronauts. Boeing continues to address issues with its Starliner spacecraft, with its next flight possibly reverting to an uncrewed status to ensure system safety.
SpaceX is anticipated to launch Crew-12 early next year for the subsequent rotational mission. NASA requires a specific number of flights from both providers to maintain ISS staffing until its decommissioning, with potential for fewer missions if crew stays are extended.
The current administration has proposed reducing the number of necessary flights and limiting astronaut numbers, prioritizing investment in lunar and Martian exploration. The strategy involves reliance on future commercial space stations to fulfill low-Earth orbit requirements.