SpaceX Crew-10

Lore & Background

SpaceX Crew-10 was initially scheduled for launch in February 2025 and was to see the maiden flight of Crew Dragon Grace, the fifth and potentially final Crew Dragon spacecraft. The launch was postponed by one month to late March 2025 to allow SpaceX and NASA to complete final testing and integration of the new spacecraft. However, because NASA believed that C213 would not be ready for its debut launch until late April, the mission was reassigned to Crew Dragon Endurance, allowing the launch date to be moved up to earlier in March.

The launch attempt on March 12, 2025 was scrubbed about 44 minutes before the planned liftoff time due to a suspected pocket of air trapped in the hydraulics on one of the clamps on the strongback that restrains and stabilizes the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket. The mission ultimately launched on a later date and ended with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.

Reader's Guide

SpaceX Crew-10 represents a key milestone in the NASA Commercial Crew Program, being the tenth operational flight and the 16th crewed orbital flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission demonstrated the flexibility of the program by reassigning the flight from the new Crew Dragon Grace to the veteran Crew Dragon Endurance after delays in the new spacecraft's readiness. The launch was further delayed by a hydraulic issue on the launch pad, highlighting the rigorous safety checks inherent in crewed spaceflight. The mission transported a multinational crew of four to the International Space Station, continuing the long-term partnership between NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos. Its splashdown in the Pacific Ocean marked the successful completion of a standard ISS rotation mission.

Did You Know?

• SpaceX Crew-10 was the tenth operational NASA Commercial Crew Program flight.
• The mission was reassigned from Crew Dragon Grace to Crew Dragon Endurance due to delays in the new spacecraft's readiness.
• The launch attempt on March 12, 2025 was scrubbed about 44 minutes before liftoff due to a suspected pocket of air in the hydraulics of a clamp on the strongback.
• The mission splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.