Crew-10 Set to Return to Earth After 140 Days in Space, Marking NASA’s First Pacific Splashdown

 After spending more than 140 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA’s Crew-10 astronauts are preparing to return to Earth in what will be a historic reentry and landing. Riding aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft ‘Endurance’, the multinational team is scheduled to undock from the orbiting laboratory on Thursday, August 7, at 16:05 UTC, with splashdown set for the following day—Friday, August 8, at 8:58 AM PDT—off the coast of California.

This mission is especially notable as it will be the first time a NASA ISS crewed mission ends with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, a shift driven by both safety concerns and improved weather reliability on the U.S. West Coast. Traditionally, returns occurred near Florida, but a revised jettison procedure for Crew Dragon’s trunk section has made Pacific landings a safer choice. Large pieces from earlier missions’ trunks had previously survived reentry and posed a potential threat if returning over land.

The Crew-10 team, led by NASA astronaut Anne McClain, also includes Nichole Ayers (NASA), Takuya Onishi (Japan’s JAXA), and Kirill Peskov (Russia’s Roscosmos). Their mission involved supporting critical scientific research, space station maintenance, and technology demonstrations that contribute to the broader goals of long-term human presence in space.

As they prepare to leave, Crew-11, composed of astronauts Zena Cardman, Michael Fincke (NASA), Kimiya Yui (JAXA), and Oleg Platonov (Roscosmos), is taking over duties aboard the ISS. This handover marks a significant milestone for JAXA, with a Japanese astronaut occupying the ISS for nearly a full year over two consecutive expeditions.

The splashdown location will depend on real-time weather and ocean conditions, with potential sites near Oceanside, San Diego, or Long Beach, California. SpaceX’s recovery ship ‘Shannon’ will be on standby to retrieve the spacecraft and its returning crew.

This mission also reflects continued U.S.-Russia cooperation in space, as NASA and Roscosmos maintain a mutual seat-sharing agreement to fly astronauts on each other’s vehicles. This approach ensures continuity aboard the ISS, even if either the Soyuz or Crew Dragon were temporarily grounded.

As Crew-10 closes out their journey, their return not only symbolizes the end of a successful mission but also marks a new chapter in how and where human spaceflight missions safely conclude back on Earth. The eyes of the world—and the future of space travel—will be watching as ‘Endurance’ makes her Pacific descent. 🌎🚀