The journey to orbit for SpaceX Crew-10 astronauts begins now (in a way).

      The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission includes, from left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, mission specialist; NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, pilot, and Anne McClain, commander; and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi.

      NASA

      The astronauts of SpaceX’s Crew-10 are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 12, but their journey to orbit effectively began on Wednesday. The four crewmembers — NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov — have now entered quarantine at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will remain in quarantine until five days prior to the launch, at which point they will move to the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center for final preparations.

      Quarantine is a crucial step in the prelaunch process, ensuring that no crew members carry any illnesses to the ISS, where other astronauts are already present.

      During quarantine, astronauts will continue their regular fitness routines and undergo daily health checks, with close monitoring to quickly identify and address any health concerns. Crew members also receive vaccinations for common illnesses, such as influenza and measles, to minimize the risk of contracting diseases before the mission. Visits are generally restricted to immediate family members, and interactions are carefully controlled to safeguard the astronauts' health.

      Crew-10 marks the tenth crew rotation mission to the space station with SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The four crew members will spend about six months on the ISS, engaging in research, conducting spacewalks, and enjoying spectacular views from 250 miles above Earth. When Crew-10 arrives, the Crew-9 astronauts — Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov — will spend a brief period with them before returning home.

      The return journey will be especially significant for Williams and Wilmore. They arrived at the ISS in June 2024 during a mission that was the first crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Though their stay was intended to be a few days, technical problems with the vehicle led NASA to bring it back without a crew. Two available seats on the next Crew Dragon flight will finally allow them to return to Earth.

      Not too long ago, Trevor transitioned from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

      SpaceX has been conducting tests on its rocket hardware in preparation for the eighth flight of its Starship megarocket. The company, led by Elon Musk, shared striking footage and images of the 33 Raptor engines on the first-stage Super Heavy booster firing while anchored to the ground.

      Recent activity at SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, indicates that the company is quickly progressing toward the eighth test of its Starship rocket, which includes the first-stage Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Starship spacecraft. SpaceX has shared two sets of images from the site over the last few days, with the initial set showing the Super Heavy booster being transported to the launchpad.

      Just before NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams boarded the Starliner spacecraft on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, in June last year, they likely told their family and friends, “See you next week.” This was because their planned stay aboard the ISS was intended to last eight days in what was the first crewed mission of the Starliner. However, the mission took an unforeseen turn when the spacecraft encountered several technical difficulties en route to the ISS. Fortunately, the capsule successfully docked, allowing Wilmore and Williams to safely enter the ISS. After weeks of attempting to resolve the technical issues, it was ultimately decided to bring the Starliner back without a crew for safety reasons.