NASA, SpaceX postpone flight to retrieve stranded astronauts

NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of a replacement crew meant to return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth from the International Space Station.

The mission, which would have initiated the homecoming process for the two veterans stuck in space for nine months after a problematic test flight on Boeing’s Starliner, was called off due to a hydraulic issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket.

NASA confirmed that teams are working to resolve the issue, and mission managers have now targeted a new launch window no earlier than 7:03 p.m. EDT on Friday. A prior launch attempt on Thursday was also postponed because of forecasted high winds and rain along Dragon’s flight path.

The upcoming Crew-10 launch is critical because it will facilitate the retrieval of Wilmore and Williams. Once the replacement crew docks with the ISS, the current Crew-9 mission – which includes the stranded astronauts along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov – is scheduled to depart on Wednesday, March 19, using a capsule that has been attached to the station since September as part of the previous mission.

This acceleration of the retrieval plan came after calls from President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring Wilmore and Williams home earlier than originally scheduled. The delay is particularly significant for the duo, who have been working on research and maintenance aboard the station. In a recent statement, Williams expressed her eagerness to reunite with her family and pets after an extended stay in space.

The mission, now under intense political and operational scrutiny, underscores the challenges facing NASA’s human spaceflight operations, especially following the technical setbacks experienced with Boeing’s Starliner. Despite the delay, both Wilmore and Williams remain in good health and are expected to return to Earth once the Crew-10 mission successfully reaches the station.

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