Astronauts Hold Tight as Dragon Comes in Hard and Fast!

SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission successfully docked its Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday, bringing fresh astronauts and a long-awaited rescue. The mission’s top priority? Bringing home NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded in space for nearly nine months.

Their original mission was supposed to last just a week. But shortly after takeoff, a malfunction in their NASA spacecraft made returning to Earth too dangerous. The rescue was finally set in motion with Dragon’s flawless docking, executed autonomously.

This mission wasn’t just about saving Wilmore and Williams. Dragon also carried a new crew to the ISS, including NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They were welcomed aboard with hugs by Expedition 72 crew members, including NASA’s Nick Hague and Don Petitt, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. As part of the crew rotation, Gorbunov and Hague will return to Earth as well.

“During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct new research to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth,” SpaceX announced on its website.

The two-hour docking process was streamed live on X, pulling in over 2.6 million views. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joined the conversation, telling his followers to expect Dragon’s return mission in just a few days. “In a few days, Dragon will bring back the astronauts,” he posted. Wilmore and Williams could be back on Earth as soon as Wednesday.

Musk also stirred controversy by claiming that the Biden administration initially rejected his offer to rescue the stranded astronauts. On the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, he suggested politics played a role, saying, “There’s no way that they’re going to make anyone who’s supporting Trump look good.” The Biden administration denied the claim.

The mission itself faced delays before launch. Originally set for Wednesday, the takeoff had to be pushed back two days due to a hydraulic issue. When all systems were go, Dragon finally lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Friday.

Long-term space travel comes with risks. Prolonged weightlessness can weaken astronauts’ bones and disrupt their circadian rhythms. Though the ISS has six sleeping quarters, it orbits Earth 16 times a day—meaning astronauts witness 16 sunrises and sunsets daily, making it difficult to maintain a natural sleep cycle.

Since the year 2000, humans have continuously lived and worked on the ISS, proving that extended missions in space are possible. But Wilmore and Williams’ experience serves as a reminder: space travel isn’t just about the journey—it’s about making sure there’s a way back home.