The Journey of SpaceX Crew-10: How Astronauts Transfer to and Return from the International Space Station

On March 14, 2025, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket roared to life at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the Crew-10 mission into orbit. This mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, marks the 10th crew rotation to the International Space Station (ISS) with SpaceX and showcases the intricate dance of technology, human skill, and international cooperation that defines modern spaceflight. But how exactly does the Crew-10 team transfer to the ISS and return to Earth? Let’s dive into the fascinating process, blending cutting-edge engineering with the timeless wonder of space exploration.

The Crew and Their Ride

Crew-10 consists of four astronauts: NASA’s Anne McClain (commander) and Nichole Ayers (pilot), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. These spacefarers launched aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Endurance, a veteran capsule that previously flew Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions. The Falcon 9 rocket, a reusable workhorse, propelled them into low Earth orbit, where their journey to the ISS began.

The Endurance Dragon is no ordinary spacecraft. Designed for autonomy, it can dock with the ISS without human intervention, though the crew is trained to take manual control if needed. This blend of automation and human oversight ensures both efficiency and safety—a hallmark of SpaceX’s approach to space travel.

The Transfer: From Earth to Orbit to ISS

The transfer process starts with launch. At 7:03 p.m. EDT on March 14, the Falcon 9’s first stage ignited, lifting the Dragon into orbit in just over eight minutes. After separation, the first stage returned to Earth, landing precisely at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station—a feat that still feels like science fiction despite becoming routine. Meanwhile, the second stage carried the Dragon into orbit, where it began its chase to catch up with the ISS, orbiting roughly 260 miles above Earth.

The journey to the ISS took about 28 hours. During this time, the Dragon executed a series of automated maneuvers, monitored by SpaceX’s mission control in Hawthorne, California, and NASA’s team at Johnson Space Center in Houston. These maneuvers adjusted the spacecraft’s trajectory to align with the ISS’s forward-facing Harmony module port. On March 15, at approximately 11:30 p.m. EDT, the Dragon docked autonomously, its soft-capture system latching onto the station with precision. After leak checks and pressurization, the hatch opened around 1:05 a.m. on March 16, and the crew floated aboard, greeted by the Expedition 72 team.

This transfer wasn’t just a ride—it was a handover. Crew-10’s arrival allowed NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov (Crew-9) to prepare for their return. For a brief period, the ISS hosted 11 people, a bustling microgravity community.

Life Aboard the ISS

Once aboard, Crew-10 began a six-month mission filled with scientific experiments, maintenance tasks, and technology demonstrations. From studying material flammability for future spacecraft designs to testing lunar navigation backups via the ISS Ham Radio program, their work pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in space. One crew member even serves as a test subject for a study on how spaceflight affects the human body—insights that could shape missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Return: A Fiery Descent and Splashdown

The return process, which Crew-9 completed on March 18, 2025, offers a glimpse into what awaits Crew-10 in September 2025. After their mission, Crew-10 will climb back into the Endurance Dragon, joined by cargo like time-sensitive research samples. The undocking, as seen with Crew-9, begins with closing the hatch—Crew-9’s was sealed at 11:15 p.m. EDT on March 17. At 1:05 a.m. on March 18, their Dragon detached from the Harmony module’s space-facing port, beginning a 17-hour journey home.

The return is a carefully choreographed sequence. The Dragon first lowers its orbit using Draco thrusters, aligning its path with one of seven splashdown zones off Florida’s coast. Mission teams, coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, assess weather conditions—wave height, wind speed, and lightning risk—days in advance, selecting a primary and alternate site. For Crew-9, favorable conditions allowed a splashdown at 5:57 p.m. EDT on March 18, near Pensacola.

As the Dragon reenters Earth’s atmosphere, it faces temperatures up to 3,500°F (1,900°C). A heat shield protects the crew, while the spacecraft’s angle of entry balances deceleration and thermal load. Parachutes deploy in stages—two drogues to stabilize, then four mains to slow descent—guiding the capsule to a gentle splashdown at about 17 mph. Recovery teams on SpaceX vessels hoist the Dragon aboard, and within an hour, the crew emerges, ready to readjust to gravity after months in space.

Why It Matters

Crew-10’s transfer and return highlight the seamless partnership between NASA, SpaceX, and international space agencies. Each mission refines the process, making spaceflight more reliable and cost-effective. The Endurance Dragon’s fourth flight underscores the power of reusable spacecraft, while the crew’s research lays groundwork for humanity’s next steps beyond Earth.

For astronauts like Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who returned with Crew-9 after an unexpected 9-month stay due to Boeing’s Starliner issues, these missions are a testament to adaptability. Crew-10’s journey continues that legacy, proving that space exploration is as much about resilience as it is about wonder.

As of today, March 18, 2025, Crew-9 is back on Earth, and Crew-10 is settling into their orbital home. In six months, they’ll retrace this path, closing another chapter in humanity’s ongoing adventure among the stars.