‘Stranded’ NASA Astronauts will have to Wait Longer As SpaceX Scrubs Crew-10 Launch

The mission, known as Crew-10, is now targeting a launch no earlier than Friday, March 14, at 7:03 p.m. EDT (2303 UTC). NASA cited not only the hydraulic issue but also concerns over high winds and precipitation along the flight path as reasons for the delay.

Technical Hurdles and Launch Preparations

The problem that caused the scrub originated from a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX teams are actively working on the problem while also monitoring weather conditions, which prompted mission managers to rule out a Thursday launch attempt.

If all goes as planned, the Crew-10 team—comprised of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov—will travel to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Endurance spacecraft. This marks Endurance’s fourth trip to the station, having previously supported the Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions.

McClain will command the flight, and once in orbit, Dragon will dock with the forward port of the ISS’s Harmony module. Had Wednesday’s launch proceeded, the crew would have arrived at the station around 6:00 a.m. EDT (1000 UTC) on Thursday.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager, Steve Stich, acknowledged the challenges faced during Crew-10’s preparation. “Over the past six weeks, the joint NASA-SpaceX team has displayed remarkable dedication, adaptability, and expertise in delivering on a unique and challenging mission,” Stich said. He praised the team for swiftly addressing technical issues and prioritizing astronaut safety.

The decision to launch Dragon Endurance again, rather than debuting a new Crew Dragon spacecraft, was driven by delays in preparing the next vehicle, tail number C213. Ahead of the mission, engineers had to address minor degradation in some of Endurance’s thrusters. SpaceX conducted additional ground tests to confirm the performance of its Draco thrusters, ultimately satisfying NASA’s safety requirements.

Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster assigned to this flight, tail number B1090, will be making its second trip to space. This booster previously flew on December 17, 2024, carrying SES’s O3b mPOWER satellites into medium Earth orbit.

NASA and SpaceX have also been closely monitoring concerns related to a separate Falcon 9 mission on March 2, when a Starlink booster experienced a fuel leak mid-ascent. That leak caused a fire in the engine bay during landing, leading to the destruction of the booster, tail number B1086. Following a static fire test on March 9, engineers inspected the Crew-10 booster for any fuel leaks. Although the root cause of the March 2 mishap is still under investigation, NASA deemed Crew-10’s Falcon 9 safe for flight.

Mission Objectives and ISS Logistics

Once on the ISS, Crew-10 will spend approximately six months conducting scientific experiments, maintenance tasks, and technology demonstrations. However, due to concerns over onboard consumables, NASA has opted to shorten the usual five-day handover between Crew-10 and Crew-9.

A complication with an upcoming cargo resupply mission has made this change necessary. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft, originally set to launch in January before facing delays due to avionics issues, will now fly in June. Compounding the problem, its shipping container sustained damage while being transported to Cape Canaveral, causing NASA to adjust SpaceX’s CRS-32 resupply mission in April to carry additional food and supplies.

Dana Weigel, NASA’s ISS program manager, explained the reasoning behind the shorter crew transition. “We shortened [the handover] for two days just to conserve consumables onboard,” she said. “That opens up more undocking opportunities, allowing us to find a good weather window for Crew-9’s return.”

Crew-9’s departure will also bring home NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who initially arrived at the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Politics and Spaceflight Controversy

Wilmore and Williams’ extended stay on the ISS has fueled political debate, particularly regarding the challenges Boeing’s Starliner program has faced. NASA opted to bring the spacecraft back to Earth without its crew due to outstanding safety concerns. Instead, the two astronauts have been serving as part of Crew-9’s mission while waiting for their return aboard Dragon.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk, a prominent political donor and advisor to former President Donald Trump, recently made claims on social media that SpaceX had offered to fly a special Dragon mission to retrieve Wilmore and Williams. He alleged that the Biden administration rejected the offer.

These statements were echoed by Trump, who incorrectly asserted that the astronauts had been “abandoned” in space. NASA, Wilmore, and Williams have all dismissed these claims. In a recent interview with CBS News, Williams provided her perspective on the situation.

“We have both been in the military, both Navy guys, our deployments have been extended,” she said. “You do what’s right for the team, and what was right for the team was to stay up here and be expedition crew members for the International Space Station.”


As NASA and SpaceX work through the final technical and weather-related concerns, all eyes are on Friday’s rescheduled launch attempt. If Crew-10 lifts off as planned, it will continue NASA’s ongoing partnership with SpaceX to ensure a steady rotation of astronauts on the ISS, maintaining vital scientific and operational activities aboard the orbiting laboratory.

For now, NASA remains committed to balancing safety, mission objectives, and international collaboration, ensuring that every launch—no matter how delayed—proceeds with the highest standards in mind.

By Azhar