NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore’s extended orbital sojourn continues as technical complications postpone their long-awaited return to Earth yet again.
The veteran space travelers, originally scheduled for a brief week-long mission when they departed in June 2024, have now spent over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their return mission faced another setback yesterday when SpaceX aborted the planned March 12 launch due to hydraulic system anomalies detected during pre-flight preparations.
SpaceX officials emphasized that the issue originated from ground support equipment rather than the spacecraft itself. The aerospace company has rescheduled the retrieval mission for Friday, March 14, with a 7:03 p.m. ET launch window. Should weather or technical concerns arise, a contingency launch opportunity is reserved for Saturday, March 15 at 6:41 p.m. ET.
The mission carries additional significance as it coincides with Crew-10, which will transport four new astronauts to the orbital laboratory: NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov. The Dragon spacecraft assigned to this mission is a veteran of three previous ISS expeditions, having successfully completed NASA’s Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions.
The first-stage booster supporting this launch has previously powered the SES 03b mPOWER-e mission and is scheduled to return to Earth with a precision landing at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station following stage separation.
Williams and Wilmore’s unexpected extended stay stems from complications with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which transported them to the ISS last June. Shortly after docking, the Starliner exhibited multiple helium propulsion system leaks and thruster performance issues that called into question its ability to safely return the astronauts to Earth.
Despite Boeing’s confidence in the Starliner’s spaceworthiness, NASA’s rigorous safety protocols and extensive testing determined that alternative return arrangements would be necessary. The decision to utilize SpaceX’s Dragon capsule for the astronauts’ return represents an unprecedented contingency operation in commercial spaceflight.
SpaceX will broadcast the mission approximately 80 minutes before liftoff through their website, X platform (formerly Twitter), and the new X TV application, allowing space enthusiasts worldwide to witness this remarkable chapter in spaceflight history.