Starliner Crew's Return Delayed: Technical Glitch Postpones Crew 10 Launch
The return of astronauts Anita Williams and Butch Willmore from the International Space Station (ISS) faces further delays as the launch of NASA's SpaceX Crew 10 has been postponed due to a last-minute technical issue.
NASA had scheduled the Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center for Wednesday evening, but about 45 minutes before liftoff, a hydraulic system issue on the ground side led to the scrub of the mission. Fortunately, both the rocket and spacecraft remained in optimal condition, according to NASA launch commentator Der Ro Nile.
While a new launch date has yet to be announced, officials indicated that Crew 10 might attempt to launch as early as Thursday night. The Crew 10 mission was initially intended to last just one week, but NASA modified the plan, ordering the Starliner capsule to return empty. This led to the transfer of Williams and Willmore to Crew 9 after their arrival aboard a SpaceX Dragon in September.
Crew 9, which is set to return aboard the Crew Dragon Freedom, will facilitate the handover process before Williams and Willmore can finally head home. The astronauts have been aboard the ISS for over nine months, making their return increasingly urgent. The upcoming launch will be crucial in ensuring their safe return after an extended stay in space.
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