NASA and SpaceX Delay Crew-10 Launch, Prolonging Starliner Astronauts’ Stay in Space
NASA and SpaceX have postponed the highly anticipated launch of the Crew-10 mission, further delaying the return of U.S. astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly nine months.
NASA and SpaceX have postponed the highly anticipated launch of the Crew-10 mission, further delaying the return of U.S. astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly nine months. The launch, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was called off due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX's Crew-10 mission will bring a team of four astronauts to the ISS: Roscosmos Cosmonaut Kiril Peskov (L), NASA Astronaut Nichole Ayers (2nd L), NASA Astronaut Anne McClain (3rd L) and JAXA Astronaut Takuya Onishi
The delay comes as a setback for Wilmore and Williams, who were set to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule following the arrival of their replacements. NASA has now rescheduled the launch for no earlier than 7:03 p.m. EDT (2303 GMT) on Friday, weather permitting. If successful, the Crew-10 mission will pave the way for Wilmore and Williams to depart the ISS on March 19.
A Prolonged Stay in Space
Wilmore and Williams, both veteran astronauts and U.S. Navy test pilots, were initially scheduled for an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, their stay has been extended indefinitely due to technical issues with the Starliner, which suffered propulsion system malfunctions during its first crewed test flight in June 2023. NASA deemed it too risky for the astronauts to return on the Starliner, leading to the current plan to bring them home via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams were original scheduled for an eight-day mission, but were forced to stay after technical issues plagued the Boeing's Starliner that brought them to the ISS
The delay has drawn significant attention, particularly after former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk called for an expedited return of the astronauts. Trump and Musk, without providing evidence, have sought to blame the Biden administration for the prolonged mission. Their intervention marks an unusual politicization of NASA’s human spaceflight operations.
The delay is a disappointing outcome for Elon Musk's SpaceX
Crew-10 Mission Details
The Crew-10 mission, now delayed, was set to carry four astronauts to the ISS: two from NASA, one from Japan, and one from Russia. The replacement crew’s arrival is critical to ensuring the ISS remains adequately staffed for maintenance and research. Once the Crew-10 astronauts dock with the station, Wilmore, Williams, and two other crew members—NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov—will be able to return to Earth aboard the Crew Dragon capsule that has been attached to the ISS since September.
Challenges with Boeing’s Starliner
Boeing’s Starliner, developed under a 4 billion, has been ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS since 2020.
Astronauts’ Perspective
Despite the extended stay, Wilmore and Williams have remained in good spirits, focusing on research and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS. In a March 4 press call, Williams expressed her eagerness to reunite with her family and dogs. “It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us,” she said of her family. “We’re here, we have a mission—we’re just doing what we do every day, and every day is interesting because we’re up in space, and it’s a lot of fun.”
Looking Ahead
As NASA and SpaceX work to resolve the hydraulic issue and prepare for the rescheduled launch, the focus remains on ensuring the safe return of Wilmore and Williams. The delay underscores the complexities and risks inherent in human spaceflight, as well as the challenges of balancing technical readiness with political pressures.
The Crew-10 mission, once launched, will mark another milestone in NASA’s collaboration with SpaceX, while also highlighting the ongoing struggles with Boeing’s Starliner program. For now, the world watches and waits, hoping for a successful mission and the safe return of the astronauts who have spent far longer in space than anyone anticipated.
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