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Keystone-SDA
Breaking: A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts – Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers of the United States, Kirill Peskov of Russia, and Takuya Onishi of Japan – successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 8:34 am local time (5:34 pm Swiss time) on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
The crew completed a nearly five-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking the tenth crew rotation under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. This program, initiated in 2010, aims too outsource crew transportation to space to private companies, ending NASA’s reliance on the Space Shuttle program which was retired in 2011.
The Dragon capsule’s return journey involved a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, utilizing heat shields to withstand temperatures exceeding 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by deployment of four drogue parachutes and a single main parachute for a soft landing.The capsule was recovered by SpaceX’s recovery vessel, American Hero, stationed in the Pacific.
During their 147-day stay on the ISS, Crew-10 conducted a wide range of scientific experiments. These included studies on plant growth in microgravity, research into cellular responses to varying gravitational forces, and investigations into fluid dynamics. Specific experiments included the Veggie plant growth system, and studies on bone density loss in space, crucial for long-duration space travel.
This mission was particularly significant as it facilitated the return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who had been unexpectedly extended their stay on the ISS to nine months due to technical issues with Boeing’s starliner spacecraft. The Starliner’s initial launch in May 2024 was delayed, and subsequent attempts faced further complications, leaving Wilmore and Williams stranded until Crew-10’s arrival in March 2025.
The successful completion of this mission underscores the growing role of private companies like SpaceX in space exploration. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, has become a key partner for NASA, providing both cargo and
