SpaceX Delays Mission to Retrieve Stranded Astronauts
SpaceX has delayed the Crew-10 mission to the ISS shortly before launch, citing a reported hydraulics problem with the launchpad. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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The Crew-10 mission was aborted less than an hour before its launch due to a reported hydraulics issue with the launchpad.
SpaceX has canceled the launch of its Crew-10 mission, which was meant to relieve two NASA astronauts who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months—much longer than the originally intended eight-day duration.
Initially scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center at 7:48 PM EDT on March 12, the mission was intended to send a replacement crew to the ISS, enabling astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return home. The pair has been on the station since June 2024 after their planned return vehicle, Boeing's Starliner, experienced propulsion system issues. NASA deemed the spacecraft unsafe and ultimately resigned it to disposal.
SpaceX officials announced during a livestream of the launch countdown that the flight was called off due to a last-minute technical issue with the rocket’s launchpad.
“. @NASA and @SpaceX scrubbed Wednesday’s #Crew10 launch attempt due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket. https://t.co/fbF3b0Cv3s” — International Space Station, March 13, 2025.
“NASA and SpaceX have scrubbed Wednesday’s launch attempt of the agency’s Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida,” NASA stated.
“Crew-10 is go for launch!” — SpaceX, March 12, 2025.
It remains unclear when the next launch attempt will occur, though backup launch windows are available on Thursday and Friday. NASA noted that the “next available launch opportunity is no earlier than 7:26 PM EDT Thursday... pending review of the issue.”
Shortly after taking office in January, US President Donald Trump urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring Wilmore and Williams home, while criticizing former President Joe Biden for their situation. However, NASA officials clarified that the decision to extend the astronauts’ stay was based on operational factors and was not politically motivated.
In spite of their extended mission, Wilmore and Williams have continued to perform their duties aboard the ISS, participating in research and maintenance activities. Williams described the situation last week as a “roller coaster” for their families, “probably a little more so than for us.”
The replacement international crew aboard the Crew-10 mission consists of American astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
SpaceX has canceled the launch of its Crew-10 mission, which was meant to relieve two NASA astronauts who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months—much longer than the originally intended eight-day duration.
Initially scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center at 7:48 PM EDT on March 12, the mission was intended to send a replacement crew to the ISS, enabling astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return home. The pair has been on the station since June 2024 after their planned return vehicle, Boeing's Starliner, experienced propulsion system issues. NASA deemed the spacecraft unsafe and ultimately resigned it to disposal.
SpaceX officials announced during a livestream of the launch countdown that the flight was called off due to a last-minute technical issue with the rocket’s launchpad.
“. @NASA and @SpaceX scrubbed Wednesday’s #Crew10 launch attempt due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket. https://t.co/fbF3b0Cv3s” — International Space Station, March 13, 2025.
“NASA and SpaceX have scrubbed Wednesday’s launch attempt of the agency’s Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida,” NASA stated.
“Crew-10 is go for launch!” — SpaceX, March 12, 2025.
It remains unclear when the next launch attempt will occur, though backup launch windows are available on Thursday and Friday. NASA noted that the “next available launch opportunity is no earlier than 7:26 PM EDT Thursday... pending review of the issue.”
Shortly after taking office in January, US President Donald Trump urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring Wilmore and Williams home, while criticizing former President Joe Biden for their situation. However, NASA officials clarified that the decision to extend the astronauts’ stay was based on operational factors and was not politically motivated.
In spite of their extended mission, Wilmore and Williams have continued to perform their duties aboard the ISS, participating in research and maintenance activities. Williams described the situation last week as a “roller coaster” for their families, “probably a little more so than for us.”
The replacement international crew aboard the Crew-10 mission consists of American astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
