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Air Force major pilots NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission

  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
  • March 14, 2025 | 12:43

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 launches aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft piloted by astronaut and U.S. Air Force Maj. Nichole “Vapor” Ayer, from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., March 14, 2025, at 7:03 p.m. EDT.

Ayers has flown missions across the globe, including more than 200 combat hours in Operation Inherent Resolve over Iraq and Syria and more than 1,400 flight hours in the T-38 Talon and F-22 Raptor. Previously stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Ayers served as the 3rd Wing, 90th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations before receiving the call to join NASA in 2021. (U.S. Air Force video courtesy of NASA)