Stranded NASA Astronauts Endure Another Setback Amid SpaceX Rocket Launch Delay
NASA-SpaceX Astronaut Rescue Mission Delayed Again Amid Political Controversy
NASA’s effort to bring home astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) faced another delay after SpaceX aborted its Crew-10 launch minutes before liftoff. The Falcon 9 rocket, set to launch from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, was halted due to a “hydraulic ground issue,” postponing the rescue mission until at least Thursday.
Williams and Wilmore have been stranded aboard the ISS since June following technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was originally slated for an eight-day mission. The Crew-10 team—NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov—were suited up and strapped into their Crew Dragon capsule when the launch was scrubbed, dashing hopes of returning the stranded duo to Earth by Sunday.
SpaceX announced backup launch windows for Thursday and Friday. Once Crew-10 arrives, Williams and Wilmore, accompanied by NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov, aim to depart aboard the already-docked Crew-9 Dragon capsule. The handover period was shortened from five days to two to conserve ISS resources and accommodate weather uncertainties.
Political Tensions Surface
Elon Musk claimed the delay was politically motivated, alleging the Biden administration rejected an earlier rescue plan to avoid boosting Donald Trump’s election prospects. Musk, who donated $288 million to Trump’s campaign, stated on Joe Rogan’s podcast that the administration “pushed the return date past the inauguration” to shield Kamala Harris’ presidential bid. He also noted ongoing lawsuits between SpaceX and the Biden administration.
NASA officials denied direct knowledge of political interference but confirmed collaboration with SpaceX since July on contingency plans. “We will not launch unless we can do so safely,” a SpaceX spokesperson emphasized after the scrub.
Technical Challenges and Next Steps
Boeing’s Starliner, plagued by thruster failures and helium leaks during its June launch, returned unmanned in September, leaving Williams and Wilmore reliant on SpaceX. NASA’s Ken Bowersox acknowledged budget constraints ruled out alternative rescue missions.
The stranded astronauts’ prolonged stay underscores the stakes for NASA and SpaceX. With Crew-10’s launch now targeting March 13, their return could slip to Monday—adding another chapter to this high-stakes orbital ordeal.
Images: [1] Astronauts strapped into Crew Dragon before scrub; [2] Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the ISS; [3] Crew-10 members pre-launch; [4] SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on the pad.
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