The launch of NASA and SpaceX's Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed. This delay has also affected the return schedule of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who remain on the space station.

Why was the launch delayed?

NASA and SpaceX had planned to launch the Crew-10 mission on Wednesday, March 12, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. However, the launch was cancelled because of a technical problem with the Falcon 9 rocket. According to NASA, the issue involved a "hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A."

SpaceX also confirmed this, saying, "Teams with @NASA and @SpaceX have forgone tonight's launch attempt of the agency’s #Crew10 mission to the @Space_Station due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket."

NASA added that the next possible launch time is "NET 7:26 p.m. ET March 13, from LC-39A at @NASAKennedy pending review of the issue." If the issue isn’t resolved in time, the backup launch window is on Friday, March 14, at 7:03 p.m. ET, with another chance on Saturday, March 15, at 6:41 p.m. ET.

When will Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore return?

This delay has impacted the return plans of Crew-9 astronauts, including Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. NASA stated that "With a March 13 Crew-10 launch, the Crew-9 mission with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, would depart the space station no earlier than 9:05 a.m. Monday, March 17, pending weather at the splashdown locations off the coast of Florida."

The Crew-10 mission consists of four astronauts: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov. This mission is important for ensuring continued operations at the ISS. It will allow the stranded astronauts to come back home safely, especially since Boeing’s Starliner, their planned ride home, faced technical problems.

Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission using SpaceX’s human space transportation system. It’s also the 11th crewed flight overall, including the earlier Demo-2 test flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

For now, both NASA and SpaceX are working to fix the issue and ensure a safe launch and return for all astronauts involved.

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