Four astronauts are set to launch from Florida as they embark on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station.
The launch is expected to liftoff at 7:48 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The arrival of Crew-10 at the ISS will pave the way for Crew-9's return to Earth , including NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck in space since June 2024.
Their return to Earth was delayed due to safety concerns regarding the Boeing Starliner capsule they used for their journey.
Officials reported the capsule had helium leaks and thruster problems.
As the countdown to Wednesday's launch approaches, the Crew-10 members took the opportunity to sit down and discuss the upcoming mission. Watch below:
About the mission
NASA said the crew will conduct more than 200 experiments during their mission.
One of the most prominent experiments includes material flammability tests. This will help "contribute to future spacecraft and facility designs," according to NASA.
The crew is also expected to communicate with students worldwide via ham radio and use its current hardware to test a "backup lunar navigation system."
NASA also said the astronauts will act as test subjects, with one crew member leading a study to understand how space affects the body and mind.
This research will help prepare for future deep-space missions.
About the crew
The mission will feature NASA astronauts Anne McClain, the commander, and Nichole Ayers, the pilot.
They will be joined by Takuya Onishi, a mission specialist from Japan, and Kirill Peskov, a cosmonaut from Russia.
WESH 2 will stream the launch in the video player above.