CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Excitement is building as the astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-10 mission head to the launch pad for their upcoming journey into space. On the afternoon of March 12, NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, departed from NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building (O&C) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The crew made their way to Launch Complex-39A, where their Falcon 9 rocket is poised for liftoff.

This mission marks SpaceX's 10th commercial crew launch for NASA and will set the quartet on a thrilling six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Crew-10 will be under the command of McClain, who previously served aboard the ISS during Expeditions 48/49. Alongside her, Onishi will be completing his second mission and is set to take on the role of Expedition 73 commander shortly after arrival at the ISS. This mission will also be a debut for mission pilot Ayers and mission specialist Peskov.

The crew, radiating enthusiasm amidst cheers from family and media, departed for the launch in sleek Tesla Model X vehicles. Their liftoff, scheduled for 7:48 p.m. EDT on March 12, will include a 14-hour journey to rendezvous with the ISS, where they'll engage in a critical changeover with Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stationed onboard since June last year.

The ongoing mission for Crew-9 has extended due to delays with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which was initially supposed to last about 10 days. However, NASA and Boeing opted for a strategic approach to ensure the safety and integrity of their collaboration. Ultimately, Williams and Wilmore are now due to return to Earth shortly after Crew-10's arrival.

This launch further emphasizes the symbiotic nature of international collaboration in space exploration. With astronauts from the United States, Japan, and Russia partnering for this mission, Crew-10 encapsulates the spirit of global cooperation in advancing human understanding of our universe.

As the countdown to launch continues, viewers can tune in for live coverage on Space.com, NASA's streaming service, and the official SpaceX crew mission page. Buckle up, as history is about to be made!