NASA postpones mission as stranded ISS astronauts wait

The launch of the NASA-SpaceX Crew-10 mission meant to pave the way for the return of a pair of astronauts stranded on the International Space Station was postponed Wednesday, the US space agency said.

"There was an issue with the hydraulic system on the ground side," NASA launch commentator Derrol Nail reported, adding that "everything was fine with the rocket and the spacecraft itself."

The NASA-SpaceX Crew-10 mission, initially scheduled for launch on March 12, 2025, has been postponed due to a hydraulic system issue with the ground support clamp arm of the Falcon 9 rocket.

This mission is critical for returning NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024. Their return was delayed after Boeing's Starliner capsule, intended for their journey back, encountered thruster problems and helium leaks, rendering it inoperable.

In response to the Starliner's technical issues, NASA opted to utilize SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule for the astronauts' return. The Crew-10 mission, carrying astronauts from the US, Japan, and Russia, is now rescheduled for no earlier than March 14, 2025.