SpaceX’s mission to replace two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed due to a last-minute technical problem. The launch by SpaceX, initially scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed, extending the stay of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the ISS by at least two days.
Their return journey to Earth has been prolonged due to propulsion issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. NASA reported the delay was caused by a hydraulic system issue affecting a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Kennedy Space Center. The agency plans to attempt another launch on Friday, enabling Wilmore and Williams to return aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after a replacement crew of American, Japanese, and Russian astronauts takes over their duties.
The Crew-10 team consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov.
If everything goes according to plan on Friday, Wilmore and Williams could leave the ISS by March 19, according to NASA.
In a recent call with reporters, Williams shared her excitement about reuniting with her family. “It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably even more so than for us,” she said. “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.”
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About SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer based at the Starbase development site near Brownsville, Texas. Since its inception in 2002, the company has achieved significant advancements in rocket propulsion, reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight, and satellite constellation technology. As of 2024, SpaceX stands as the world’s leading space launch provider, outpacing all competitors, including private firms and national programs like China’s space initiative.
The collaboration between SpaceX, NASA, and the United States Armed Forces is facilitated through government contracts. SpaceX has garnered global attention for several historic achievements, including being the only private company capable of returning a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit. In 2012, its Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to deliver cargo to and from the ISS, and in 2020, SpaceX made history again by becoming the first private company to transport humans to the station.
