SpaceX postponed the Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida, US, less than an hour before liftoff on March 12, 2025.
The mission, NASA’s Crew-10, aimed to replace stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore at the International Space Station (ISS). A hydraulic issue with a ground support clamp arm caused the SpaceX launch delay.
Standing down from tonight's launch opportunity of @NASA's Crew-10 mission to the @Space_Station
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 12, 2025NASA and SpaceX scrubbed the attempt at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A due to the technical glitch. High winds and precipitation forecast for Thursday, March 13, pushed the next window to no earlier than 7:03 PM EDT on Friday, March 14. “Safety comes first,” NASA stated.
SpaceX delays flight to replace NASA’s stuck astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after launch pad problemhttps://t.co/2fUDRojj2g pic.twitter.com/d7R6QDaHd0
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 13, 2025Crew and Mission Impact
The crew—NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos’ Kirill Peskov—safely exited the Dragon spacecraft. The rocket remains secure. Originally, the Crew Dragon was set to retrieve Williams and Wilmore by March 19, minimizing ISS resource use.
Read: SpaceX Starship Crashes in Eighth Test Flight Setback
This SpaceX launch delay extends the wait for the stranded astronauts. Mission managers are monitoring conditions to ensure a smooth liftoff. Once resolved, the rescheduled launch will keep the ISS crew rotation on track.
