CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (CHATNEWSTV) — U.S. Air Force Maj. Nichole Ayers has completed her most daring mission yet—space.
Ayers, a former F-22 Raptor pilot, served as the pilot for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission, which successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on March 15. The crew’s primary objective: to bring home two NASA astronauts who have been aboard the ISS since June 2024.
“We train for the worst and hope for the best,” Ayers said. “Training to go to the International Space Station is no different.”
Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center on March 14, Ayers was joined by mission commander Army Col. Anne McClain, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The spacecraft docked after 28.5 hours of travel at speeds reaching 17,000 mph. The crew is set to return to Earth on March 18.
Ayers, who completed astronaut training in 2024, is a combat-seasoned pilot with over 1,400 flight hours, including 200 combat hours over Iraq and Syria. Before joining NASA, she was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, as the assistant director of operations for the 90th Fighter Squadron.
She credits her Air Force experience with preparing her for this milestone.
“Taking care of your teammates in adverse or austere environments is something every airman learns throughout their career,” she said. “My time in the Air Force prepared me well for this mission.”
Ayers has dreamed of space travel since childhood, inspired by the space shuttle program.
“I always loved flying and space,” she said. “When I learned you could fly the space shuttle, I knew I wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force and pursue my dream of becoming a NASA astronaut.”
As Crew-10 prepares for re-entry, Ayers says the mission is about more than just spaceflight—it’s about teamwork and perseverance.
“If you are a good team player and you’re willing to work hard, you’ll get anywhere you want in this life,” she said.
