SpaceX Crew-10 Splashes Down Safely

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission concluded successfully as the Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on August 9, 2025. The mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, marked a milestone as the first crew to return to this region. On board were NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.

The spacecraft was swiftly retrieved by SpaceX recovery teams, and following their return to shore, the crew will head to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy highlighted the importance of such missions, stating that they lay the groundwork for extended human exploration, including ventures to the Moon and Mars.

Launched on March 14, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Crew-10 docked at the International Space Station two days later. During their mission, they completed over 2,300 orbits around Earth and contributed significantly to scientific research and technology demonstrations. Key studies focused on plant growth in space, DNA sequence changes due to radiation, and microgravity’s effect on human biology.

The mission also included a spacewalk by McClain and Ayers, which focused on maintenance tasks critical to future space station operations. Their successful return paves the way for continued advancements in NASA’s partnerships with private companies like SpaceX, aimed at enhancing access to space and supporting future expeditions beyond low Earth orbit.