SpaceX Crew-10 Mission

SpaceX Crew-10 Mission © SpaceX

The SpaceX Crew-10 mission marks a key step in returning NASA astronauts stranded on the ISS for nine months.

On Sunday, March 16, at 12:04 a.m. ET, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft docked autonomously with the International Space Station.

SpaceX Crew-10 Mission © SpaceX

The journey began about 29 hours earlier when a Falcon 9 rocket launched Dragon and the Crew-10 team into orbit at 7:03 p.m. ET on Friday, March 14, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Crew-10 Mission © SpaceX

While aboard the ISS, the crew will conduct research to support future human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and benefit life on Earth.

SpaceX Crew-10 Mission © SpaceX

During its approach, Dragon performed a series of engine burns to gradually move closer before completing docking, pressurizing the vestibule, opening the hatch, and allowing the crew to enter.