NASA Crew-10 Astronauts Return to Earth After 5-Month Mission

Astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov from NASA's Crew-10 mission returned to Earth after a five-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS). The crew conducted over 200 science experiments during their 146-day mission and boarded the Dragon capsule for a 17.5-hour journey back to Earth, where they will splash down off the California coast.

NASA's Crew-10 mission concluded on Saturday with the return of astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov to Earth. The astronauts, who had been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 146 days, conducted over 200 scientific experiments during their tenure. The mission marked the 10th commercial crew rotation by NASA and was the first to splash down in the Pacific Ocean [1].

The astronauts departed the ISS on Friday aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule and began a 17.5-hour journey back to Earth. The capsule was scheduled to splash down off the coast of California at 11:33 a.m. UTC/GMT on Saturday [2]. The delay in departure was due to high winds in the splashdown area, but the spacecraft and crew remained healthy [4].

The Crew-10 mission replaced astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, who were stranded on the ISS for nine months after their Boeing Starliner capsule developed propulsion issues. The stranded astronauts were eventually brought home by a SpaceX capsule [3].

The Crew-10 mission was notable for its scientific contributions, including studies on plant growth and cell behavior in microgravity. The crew also conducted more than 200 "important and time-sensitive" research experiments [2].

The return of Crew-10 marks the end of an era for NASA's space station operations. The space agency is now focused on the upcoming missions and the future of human spaceflight. The success of the Crew-10 mission is a testament to the collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, and the dedication of the astronauts who risk their lives to advance scientific knowledge [1].

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/science/nasa-crew-10-astronauts-depart-space-station-after-five-month-mission-2025-08-08/
[2] https://www.dw.com/en/nasa-astronauts-return-to-earth-from-iss-after-five-months/a-73578466
[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/space-station-fliers-return-to-earth-splashdown/
[4] https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2025/08/07/spacex-crew-10-astronauts-set-to-return-to-earth/2071754573167/