NASA SpaceX delay flight that was to retrieve stuck astronauts

NASA and SpaceX Delay Mission to Retrieve Astronauts Stranded on ISS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA and SpaceX have postponed a critical mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that was set to facilitate the return of two U.S. astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck in orbit for nine months. The launch, originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, was scrubbed due to a hydraulic issue with a ground support clamp arm on the Falcon 9 rocket, NASA announced.

The mission, known as Crew-10, is essential for bringing Wilmore and Williams back to Earth, as their return depends on the arrival of a replacement crew. NASA is now targeting a new launch window no earlier than 7:03 p.m. EDT on Friday, March 14, after canceling a Thursday attempt due to unfavorable weather conditions, including high winds and rain in the rocket’s flight path.

Wilmore and Williams, both veteran astronauts and retired Navy test pilots, launched to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule for what was intended to be an eight-day test flight. However, propulsion issues and helium leaks on the Starliner led NASA to deem the spacecraft too risky for their return, stranding the astronauts on the ISS. NASA subsequently arranged for their return via a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which has been docked at the station since September as part of the Crew-9 mission.

The delay in the Crew-10 launch extends an already prolonged mission for Wilmore and Williams, who have now spent over nine months in space—far longer than planned. NASA has emphasized that the astronauts are not stranded in the sense of being without options, as they have access to a safe return vehicle, but their departure is contingent on maintaining adequate staffing levels at the ISS. The station typically operates with a crew of seven, and NASA prefers overlapping crew rotations to ensure continuity of operations and scientific research.

The Crew-10 mission, when it proceeds, will carry four astronauts—NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov—to the ISS. Upon their arrival, they will replace Wilmore, Williams, and two other astronauts, NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov, who have been aboard since the Crew-9 mission began. The returning crew is expected to undock and return to Earth approximately one week after the new crew docks, potentially in late March or early April 2025.

This delay marks another setback in a saga that has drawn significant attention, not only for its operational challenges but also for its political undertones. Former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have publicly criticized the Biden administration, claiming without evidence that the astronauts were “abandoned” in space due to administrative failures. NASA leadership, including former Administrator Bill Nelson, has refuted these claims, asserting that the extended mission was a deliberate decision prioritizing astronaut safety and that contingency plans, including the use of SpaceX, were in place well in advance.

The situation has also highlighted ongoing challenges for Boeing, whose Starliner program, developed under a $4.5 billion NASA contract to compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, has faced repeated setbacks. While SpaceX has successfully conducted 10 crewed missions to the ISS since 2020, Boeing’s Starliner remains uncertified for routine flights, with its latest test mission underscoring persistent engineering difficulties.

NASA and SpaceX are working to resolve the hydraulic issue and monitor weather conditions, with updates expected on the mission’s status in the coming days. Meanwhile, Wilmore and Williams continue their work aboard the ISS, contributing to scientific experiments and station maintenance, demonstrating resilience in the face of an extended mission.

Despite the delays, NASA officials remain confident in their ability to safely return the astronauts, emphasizing that such challenges are inherent in the high-risk domain of human spaceflight, particularly during test missions.