SpaceX Crew 10 Mission to the ISS Launch New Time 6:03PM CDT Friday 3/11

Despite the media ignorance and sensationalism, this is not exactly a “rescue mission” to retrieve “stranded astronauts.”

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the ISS aboard a troubled Boeing Starliner on its first crewed mission. They were only supposed to be there a few days, but Boeing delayed their return to troubleshoot known issues. Days turned into weeks and the ISS was due to get more crowded.

It was time for the Crew 9 astronauts to arrive for their six month assignment on the ISS and relieve the Crew 8 team members. Crew 9 was supposed to be a crew of four astronauts, astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague,Stephanie Wilson, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

After a Boeing and NASA decision to bring the Starliner back un-crewed, Butch and Suni would assume the duties of part of the Crew 9 team. Cockblocked by Boeing, Nick and Aleksandr would leave behind the women and travel to the ISS on board, and this is important, the SpaceX Dragon capsule named Freedom. where it remains docked today. Along with them were custom fitted SpaceX suits tailored for Butch and Suni.

Time for a ISS crew rotation, the four Crew 10 astronauts will liftoff today in SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endurance that will dock and remain with Crew 10 for the duration of their regular mission.

After a brief handoff Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will leave the ISS for a return to Earth in the Freedom capsule and splash down in the Gulf of America.