A NASA-SpaceX mission designed to pave the way for two stranded astronauts to return to Earth has been postponed following a technical issue.
The Falcon 9 launch, scheduled to lift off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was delayed due to a hydraulic ground system problem.
Engineers identified the issue with the hydraulics on one of the clamp arms, raising concerns that the arm might not have opened fully during launch.
According to the BBC, SpaceX said work was underway to settle the issue, with another potential dispatch window accessible on Thursday. Be that as it may, it remains vague whether the gear will be prepared in time.
The rocket was expected to carry four modern group individuals to the Universal Space Station (ISS), making a pathway for the return of NASA space explorers Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.
The pair have been stuck in space since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft was deemed unsafe for the return journey. Once the SpaceX mission successfully docks with the ISS, the astronauts could return to Earth within days.
Williams and Wilmore originally left Earth on 5 June 2024 for what was meant to be an eight-day mission. Instead, they have spent over nine months on the ISS, supporting ongoing research and maintenance tasks.
Despite the prolonged stay, both astronauts remained upbeat. Speaking during a news conference from the ISS in September, they described how they were mentally prepared for unexpected developments. “This is my happy place,” said Ms Williams, acknowledging she missed her family and two dogs.
Mr Wilmore reflected on the Starliner issues, stating they did not feel “comfortable” using it to fly back. He noted that “90% of their training was preparing for the unexpected” and added they would stay for “eight months, nine months, 10 months” if needed.
Ms Williams also shared a more reflective thought on life in orbit: “It opens up the door to making you think differently. It’s the one planet we have and we should be taking care of it.”
Tribune Online reports that SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, recently accused the Biden administration of deliberately preventing his company from rescuing two NASA astronauts who had been stranded aboard the ISS for over eight months.
He claimed that SpaceX could have brought them back six months ago, but former President Joe Biden refused to approve the mission.
