The much-anticipated launch of SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission, which was set to transport four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and bring back NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, was postponed just under an hour before liftoff. The Falcon 9 rocket, scheduled to take off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was halted due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm.
NASA and SpaceX officials made the decision to scrub the launch attempt, prioritizing the safety of the mission. The launch is now rescheduled for no earlier than 7:03 PM EDT (4:33 AM IST) on Friday, March 14. This delay extends Williams and Wilmore’s already prolonged stay aboard the ISS, which was originally planned for just eight days but has now stretched to over eight months due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
SpaceX delays ISS mission to bring back Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore: Know the reason
According to NASA and SpaceX, a technical issue with a hydraulic system on a ground support clamp arm at Launch Complex 39A led to the last-minute decision to stand down from the launch attempt. The clamp arm plays a crucial role in securing the Falcon 9 rocket before liftoff. Any malfunction in this system poses a potential risk to the mission, prompting mission controllers to postpone the launch to allow for further inspections and troubleshooting.
Weather concerns add to the delay of Sunita Williams’ return to Earth
Following the technical issue, mission managers met and decided to cancel a potential launch attempt on Thursday, March 13, due to unfavorable weather conditions. High winds and precipitation along the flight path of the Crew Dragon spacecraft were cited as risks to a safe launch. Given these factors, NASA and SpaceX opted to target March 14 as the next available launch window, pending further evaluations.
Current status of the crew and rocket
Following the decision to postpone the launch, the four Crew-10 astronauts—NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos’ Kirill Peskov—safely exited the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The Falcon 9 rocket also remains in a stable condition and will undergo additional checks before the next scheduled launch attempt.
Impact on Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s return
If the Crew-10 mission had launched as planned, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon was expected to return NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth by March 19. Their return has been a priority for NASA, given that their stay aboard the ISS has already exceeded initial expectations due to delays with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The extended mission has required careful management of consumables, including food, water, and other life-support resources. NASA had planned a quicker turnaround for the Crew Dragon to minimize further strain on the ISS’s supplies.
Next steps for the Crew-10 mission
SpaceX engineers are now assessing the hydraulic system issue on the ground support equipment and monitoring weather conditions for the next launch window. If the problem is resolved and weather conditions improve, Crew-10 will proceed with its mission to relieve the current ISS crew and continue critical research and maintenance tasks aboard the orbiting laboratory.
NASA and SpaceX remain committed to ensuring a safe and successful launch. Updates will continue to be provided as mission teams work through technical and environmental challenges ahead of the rescheduled launch date.
