A Lighthearted Moment During a Serious Mission

Even astronauts, often seen as the epitome of professionalism and focus, know how to have fun in space. This was perfectly illustrated during NASA’s Crew-10 docking with the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday morning, when an unexpected and playful “alien” appeared to greet the new arrivals.

Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner took the opportunity to lighten the mood by donning an alien mask while welcoming four crew members arriving aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The capsule successfully docked at approximately 12:04 a.m. local time, nearly 29 hours after its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday evening at 7:03 p.m.

A Playful Welcome in Zero Gravity

While the crew was preparing the capsule for unloading, Vagner was seen floating around inside the station wearing a mask, hoodie, pants, and socks — a humorous gesture that brought smiles to everyone involved. NASA’s spokesperson described the scene as a “lighthearted moment,” highlighting the camaraderie and good humor shared among spacefarers.

Later, at 1:35 a.m. EDT, the hatch between the SpaceX Dragon and the ISS was opened, allowing astronauts from different international agencies to enter the station. Among the newcomers were NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.

Welcoming the New Crew with Tradition and Cheers

Following the hatch opening, Suni Williams rang the ship’s bell to mark the arrival of the new crew members. They floated into the station, exchanged handshakes and hugs with the Expedition 72 crew, and greeted the space station community after Vagner’s humorous stunt.

Williams expressed her enthusiasm: “It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive.” The mood was buoyant, reflecting the close-knit nature of space missions despite the challenges they often face.

Rescue Missions and Future Departures

The recent arrivals are expected to spend time familiarizing themselves with the station’s operations under the guidance of Williams and Butch Wilmore. Originally scheduled for only one week, their mission was extended after issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft forced NASA to bring the crew back home prematurely.

Meanwhile, the current crew members, including Expedition 72 commander Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are preparing to depart the station. Their scheduled departure is set for early Wednesday at around 4 a.m., with plans to splash down off the coast of Florida.

Contributions to this report were made by Fox News’ Landon Mion, the Associated Press, and Reuters.

Ethan Cole

I'm Ethan Cole, a tech journalist with a passion for uncovering the stories behind innovation. I write about emerging technologies, startups, and the digital trends shaping our future. Read me on x.com