Sunita Williams’ Return Delayed Again as SpaceX Postpones ISS Launch
SpaceX scrubbed a crucial rocket launch on Wednesday meant to bring replacements for NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months due to Boeing Starliner issues. The delay pushes their homecoming further, with the next launch window set for Thursday.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center at 7:48 p.m. ET, faced a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm. NASA confirmed the cancellation in a statement, rescheduling the Crew-10 mission for no earlier than 7:26 p.m. EDT Thursday. The mission was critical to initiate the return of Williams and Wilmore, stranded since June 2024.
Williams and Wilmore launched to the ISS on Boeing’s Starliner for an eight-day test flight, its first with a crew. Propulsion system failures forced NASA to return the craft uncrewed, extending the astronauts’ stay to over nine months. They have since been assisting with research and maintenance aboard the ISS.
The Crew-10 mission includes four astronauts—two from the US, one each from Japan and Russia. Upon their arrival, Williams, Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov will return on the Crew-9 SpaceX Dragon, docked at the ISS since September. NASA requires the new crew’s arrival to maintain adequate staffing on the station.
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President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk urged an earlier return, prompting NASA to advance the mission by two weeks from its original March 26 target. The agency swapped a delayed capsule for a ready one to meet the demand. No evidence supports their claims of delays under former President Joe Biden.
In a March 4 call, Sunita Williams expressed excitement about reuniting with her family and dogs. “It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us,” she said, highlighting the daily joys of working in space. NASA assures the astronauts remain safe and productive on the ISS.
Boeing’s $4.5 billion Starliner project aimed to rival SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, operational since 2020 under a $4 billion NASA contract. Persistent engineering setbacks since 2019 have delayed its certification for routine missions. The June 2024 flight was a key test, but safety concerns halted its crewed return.
Pending a review of the hydraulic issue, SpaceX aims for a Thursday launch. If successful, Crew-9, including Williams and Wilmore, could depart the ISS by March 17, weather permitting at the Florida splashdown site. Further updates are expected as NASA monitors the situation.
