Florida: A critical NASA-SpaceX mission, designed to facilitate the return of two stranded astronauts, has been postponed due to a hydraulic ground issue.
The Falcon 9 launch, initially scheduled to lift off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was called off, with a new launch opportunity set for Friday at 1903 Eastern Time (2303 GMT).
The mission was set to deliver four new crew members to the International Space Station (ISS), paving the way for the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, 58, and Butch Wilmore, 61. The pair have been stuck at the ISS since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft was deemed unsafe for re-entry.
Originally embarking on an eight-day test flight, the astronauts have now spent more than nine months in orbit, assisting with station maintenance and scientific experiments. Had Wednesday’s SpaceX launch gone ahead, their return could have been possible as early as Sunday.
Now targeting no earlier than Friday, March 14 for Falcon 9’s launch of @NASA‘s Crew-10 mission → https://t.co/VPdhVwQFNJ pic.twitter.com/JVszH0DjC8
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 13, 2025
SpaceX confirmed that the delay was caused by an issue with the hydraulics on one of the rocket’s clamp arms, which engineers are working to resolve. The concern was that the arm might not fully open during launch, potentially compromising the mission.
Despite their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore have taken the situation in stride. In a September press conference from the ISS, Williams described space as her “happy place,” although she admitted missing her family and two dogs.
Wilmore acknowledged that while they were trained to expect the unexpected, they were not comfortable flying back on the faulty Starliner. “We’ll stay here as long as needed,” he said, emphasizing their commitment to space exploration.
