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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A technical fault in the helium system of NASA’s next-generation Moon rocket was announced on Saturday, ruling out the planned March launch window for the Artemis II mission.
NASA successfully completed a critical fueling rehearsal on Thursday (19 February) for its giant moon rocket, Artemis II, after earlier hydrogen leaks disrupted preparations for the next crewed lunar mission. The launch is scheduled for 6 March, according to the latest information from NASA.
New Juno measurements show Jupiter’s equatorial and polar diameters are slightly smaller than once believed, giving scientists a clearer understanding of the gas giant’s structure.
One person has died after a cable car cabin at the Titlis ski resort in central Switzerland plunged down a snow-covered mountainside on Wednesday (18 March) amid strong winds.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field without U.S. or Qatari involvement, and warned that any Iranian attack on Qatar would prompt massive retaliation. The comments come as regional tensions soar after Tehran fired missiles at Gulf energy sites.
Israel reportedly launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran on Friday (20 March), a day after U.S. President Donald Trump told it not to repeat its strikes on Iranian natural gas infrastructure, which sharply escalated the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Festive events across Azerbaijan are bringing the spirit of Novruz to life, with the Gala State Historical and Ethnographic Reserve hosting its annual “Spring Fortress” celebration. Visitors are immersed in a historic setting, surrounded by colourful decorations and live performances.
Transport groups across the Philippines launched a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest against rising oil prices. The action affected 15 to 20 protest centres in Metro Manila, with similar demonstrations taking place across several major provinces.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter has been shown driving a battle tank in newly released state media images - an unusually prominent display that has intensified speculation about her future role within the regime.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Danish troops flown to Greenland in January were ready to blow up airport runways in the event of a potential U.S. attack, Denmark’s public broadcaster DR reported on Thursday (19 March), citing soruces within the country and among European allies.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has refused to lift his opposition to a €90 billion ($104 billion) European Union loan to help Ukraine keep up its fight against Russia’s invasion, following a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday (19 March).
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