SpaceX delays mission to bring back astronauts stuck in space

SpaceX delays mission to bring back astronauts stuck in space

Last Updated Mar - 13 - 2025, 01:06 PM | Source : Fela News

Astronauts Barry Wimore and Sunita Williams' return got delayed due to some technical difficulties in NASA’s Starlink.

NASA planned to launch a SpaceX rocket from Florida to deliver a replacement crew to the International Space Station (ISS) and facilitate the return of astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded in space for nine months due to Boeing's faulty Starliner. However, the launch was postponed due to a hydraulic issue with the Falcon 9 rocket’s ground support system. The next attempt is set for March 14.

Originally scheduled for March 26, the Crew-10 mission was moved up after President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk urged NASA to expedite Wilmore and Williams' return. The astronauts, who arrived on Starliner in June, were deemed unsafe to return on the Boeing craft due to propulsion issues. They will now return aboard a SpaceX capsule after Crew-10 arrives.

Starliner, developed under a $4.5 billion NASA contract, has faced delays and engineering failures, trailing behind SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which has been operational since 2020. Despite the setbacks, NASA maintains the astronauts have remained safe aboard the ISS.

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