E-Tools

NASA aims to launch new mission to ISS on March 12, earlier than planned NHK

US space agency NASA plans to launch a SpaceX craft for its upcoming mission to the International Space Station on March 12, earlier than scheduled.

The agency announced on Tuesday the new target launch date for its Crew-10 mission. The space capsule was originally due to be launched in late March or later.

Japanese astronaut Onishi Takuya is to head to the space station along with three other crewmembers, including Americans and a Russian. Onishi is scheduled to stay on the ISS for about six months.

After delivering the Crew-10 members to the orbiting station, the SpaceX craft will return to Earth two NASA astronauts who have been staying there since June last year.

The two arrived at the ISS on board a Boeing Starliner, but their return to Earth has been delayed due to technical glitches with the spacecraft.

US President Donald Trump announced on social media last month that he had asked Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, and his firm to bring back the two stranded astronauts.

NASA says the earlier launch opportunity became available due to a decision to use a previously flown SpaceX Dragon capsule, instead of a new Dragon spacecraft.

This will be the second stay at the ISS for Onishi, who made his first flight to the station in 2016 on board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Summary
NASA reschedules Crew-10 mission to launch on March 12 aboard a SpaceX craft, earlier than initially planned. Japanese astronaut Onishi Takuya and three others will travel to the International Space Station for a six-month stay, replacing two NASA astronauts who have been there since June 2020.
Statistics

223

Words

1

Read Count
Details

ID: 85317323-f9a0-487e-bc71-e81c55b34840

Category ID: nhk

URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250212_18/

Date: Feb. 12, 2025

Created: 2025/02/13 07:00

Updated: 2025/12/08 06:17

Last Read: 2025/02/13 07:49