The astronauts have been on the ISS since June due to problems with Starliner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SpaceX postponed a mission on Wednesday to bring the next crew set to work on the International Space Station (ISS) and begin the return of a pair of astronauts back to Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The launch’s postponement was announced on Wednesday evening ahead of what would have been the scheduled launch time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was an issue with the hydraulic system on the launch side. It is a ground issue with the launch tower and not a problem with the spacecraft, according to SpaceX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SpaceX said a backup window of Thursday at 7:48 p.m. ET and Friday at 7:03 p.m. ET would be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams have been in space since June 2024 after they performed the first crewed test flight<\/u><\/a> of Boeing’s Starliner. When they launched, they were only supposed to be on the ISS for about a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, NASA and Boeing officials decided to send the uncrewed Starliner back to Earth in September after several issues and keep Wilmore and Williams onboard until early 2025 when Crew-10 was ready to launch on the Dragon spacecraft. Wilmore and Williams are set to return in the Crew-9 capsule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pair integrated with the ongoing Crew-9 mission aboard the ISS and could not return to Earth until Crew-9 completed its six-month mission and were replaced by Crew-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wilmore and Williams assisted the crew with research and other responsibilities. However, NASA officials said the pair were using up more supplies<\/u><\/a> meant for the ISS crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said that NASA teams spent all summer looking over the data on Starliner and felt there was too much risk with regard to the vehicle’s thrusters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n