Elon Musk's SpaceX mission to bring Sunita Williams back is set to launch soon, check date here

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to launch the Crew-10 mission on Wednesday. The mission will send four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and replace the current team. Among those waiting to return is NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who has spent over eight months in space.

Crew-10 Mission Set for Launch
The Crew-10 mission will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:18 a.m. IST. The Dragon spacecraft, which previously flew Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7, will carry four astronauts. The crew includes Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov.

After launch, the spacecraft will separate from Falcon-9 and adjust its course. It will perform a series of burns to align with the ISS before docking. Once docked, the hatch will open, and the new crew will enter the station.

Sunita Williams Awaits Return
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stuck in space due to an extended mission. They arrived aboard Boeing’s Starliner for an eight-day trip in 2024. However, delays have kept them at the ISS for over eight months. NASA expects their return around March 19 or 20 aboard a SpaceX vehicle.

Their situation gained political attention after former U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the delay. He claimed the Biden administration was intentionally preventing their return. Trump referred to Williams as the “woman with wild hair” and joked about the astronauts’ long stay. He also commented on her floating hair in space, saying, “Good solid head of hair she’s got.”