NASA and SpaceX Delay Flight To Return Stranded Astronauts On The ISS To Earth
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of the Crew-10 mission, which is meant to replace two astronauts who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for the last nine months. The launch was called off due to a hydraulic issue with a ground support system for the Falcon 9 rocket. The next attempt is scheduled for Friday, March 15th, at 7:03 p.m. EDT, pending resolution of the technical issue. Once Crew-10 arrives, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, along with their Crew-9 teammates, will return to Earth.
Wilmore and Williams originally traveled to the ISS in June 2023 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was meant to be a short mission, but propulsion issues forced NASA to keep the spacecraft grounded. Since then, they have been assisting with station operations while awaiting a return trip. The delay in bringing them home has become a political issue, with former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk accusing the Biden administration of intentionally stalling their return. However, NASA has maintained that the decision to delay their return was made to ensure a fully staffed ISS and that a separate rescue mission was never considered.
Despite the extended stay, both astronauts have expressed that they are in good spirits. Williams said she is eager to reunite with her family, while Wilmore addressed the speculation surrounding Musk’s claims, stating, “What he says is absolutely factual,” but adding that he had no direct knowledge of what was offered or discussed. NASA officials continue to emphasize that the return of Wilmore and Williams was always planned as part of the regular astronaut rotation and was not influenced by political factors.
