Delayed Return: NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Mission to Bring Astronauts Back to Earth

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission is gearing up to bring astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth after a prolonged stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was initially scheduled to launch on Wednesday but was scrubbed due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm. The new launch window is set for Friday, March 14th, at 7:03 PM ET.

Wilmore and Williams were launched to the ISS on June 5th, 2024, aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to be an eight-day mission. However, thruster failures and helium leaks forced NASA to prolong their stay, and the astronauts have been stuck in space for nine months.

The Crew-10 mission will include NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, as well as JAXA mission specialist Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The crew will spend several months aboard the ISS conducting experiments, research, and performing spacewalks.

Meanwhile, NASA's Crew-9 mission, which was initially scheduled to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth, has been delayed. The mission will now launch "no earlier" than September 24th, with plans to bring the astronauts back to Earth in February 2025.

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth, experienced several issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA decided to bring the astronauts back on SpaceX's Dragon capsule instead.

As the situation unfolds, NASA and SpaceX are working together to ensure the safe return of Wilmore and Williams. The Crew-10 mission is a critical step in this process, and its success will mark a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to bring the astronauts back home.