Sunita Williams
NASA’s highly anticipated SpaceX Crew-10 mission is now scheduled for launch on Friday, March 14, at 7:03 PM ET. The mission will send a new crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and facilitate the long-awaited return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for nearly nine months due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Reason Behind Crew-10 Mission Delay
The Crew-10 mission was initially planned for Thursday, March 13, but NASA delayed the launch due to unfavorable weather conditions, including high winds and rain expected along the rocket’s flight path. Additionally, NASA cited a technical issue with the hydraulic system of a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A as another reason for the delay. NASA confirmed that the launch team is actively working to resolve the issue and ensure all systems are fully functional for a safe and successful launch.
Mission Background and Objective
The Crew-10 mission will mark a critical step in NASA’s crew rotation at the ISS. The mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and carry four astronauts, including two from the United States, one from Japan, and one from Russia.
A key objective of the mission is to bring back Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the ISS since June 2023. Their initial eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner was extended after the spacecraft experienced propulsion system malfunctions, preventing it from returning to Earth with the crew. The Starliner eventually returned to Earth without the astronauts, leaving them stranded at the ISS.
NASA accelerated the Crew-10 mission by two weeks following suggestions from former US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring Williams and Wilmore back earlier than originally planned. The decision to fast-track the mission underscores the urgency of resolving the extended stay of the astronauts.
Extended Stay and Current Status of Williams and Wilmore
Williams and Wilmore, both seasoned astronauts and former Navy pilots, have remained safe and productive aboard the ISS. Over the past nine months, they have contributed to vital research and maintenance work, ensuring the station’s continued operation.
In a recent press conference on March 4, Williams expressed her eagerness to return home and reunite with her family and pets. “It’s been a challenging time, but we’re grateful for the support from NASA and our fellow astronauts on the ISS,” Williams stated.
Technical Challenges with Boeing’s Starliner
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was developed under a $4.5 billion contract with NASA to serve as an alternative to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS. However, repeated technical issues and cost overruns have plagued the Starliner program, raising doubts about its long-term viability.
The Starliner mission that transported Williams and Wilmore to the ISS was the spacecraft’s first crewed mission. However, the propulsion system failure forced Boeing to modify the return plan, leaving Williams and Wilmore without a reliable means of returning to Earth.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon—developed under a similar $4 billion NASA contract—has become the agency’s primary mode of transportation for crewed missions since 2020.
Next Steps and Future
Once the Crew-10 mission successfully docks with the ISS, Wilmore and Williams, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will return to Earth aboard a Crew Dragon capsule that has been docked at the station since September 2024 as part of the Crew-9 mission.
NASA remains confident that the Crew-10 mission will proceed as planned, allowing Wilmore and Williams to finally conclude their extended mission and return home safely. The success of the Crew-10 mission is expected to restore confidence in NASA’s human spaceflight program while highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Boeing’s Starliner initiative.
