A critical mission by NASA and SpaceX aimed at safely returning two astronauts who have been stranded in space for nine months has encountered delays due to technical difficulties. The postponement is attributed to a malfunction in the hydraulic system of a ground support clamp arm on the Falcon 9 rocket. Originally scheduled for launch on March 14, this mission was intended to facilitate the return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams from the International Space Station (ISS). Following pressure from President Donald Trump, who urged NASA to hasten their return, the agency had recently moved their homecoming up by two weeks. Wilmore and Williams, both seasoned astronauts and former U.S. Navy test pilots, initially arrived at the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Due to issues with the propulsion system, NASA determined that it would be too hazardous for them to return on the same vehicle. In a recent media call, Williams shared her thoughts on the emotional impact of their prolonged mission, recognizing the strain it has placed on her family while expressing a positive perspective on her experiences in space. She remarked, “It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us. We’re here, we have a mission, and every day is interesting because we’re up in space, and it’s a lot of fun.” The Crew-10 mission, which was initially planned as a standard crew rotation, has become intertwined with political discussions, as noted by the news agency. Both Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have criticized former President Joe Biden regarding the prolonged delay in the return of Wilmore and Williams. Although NASA has not substantiated these claims, the agency is actively working to expedite the astronauts’ return by replacing a delayed SpaceX capsule with one that is available sooner.
