Sunita Williams and Other Astronauts Still Stuck in Space. What is Delaying Their Return to Earth?

Sunita Williams and others remain stranded stuck there as NASA and SpaceX again delayed their return to Earth stopping launch of Crew-10 mission

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her Crew-9 teammates, who went on an 8-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and now stuck there for almost 9 months after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to bring them back suffered propulsion problems. 

What is Delaying Sunita Williams and others’ return to earth?

They remain stuck there as NASA and SpaceX once again delayed their return to Earth as the launch of the much-anticipated Crew-10 mission, which would facilitate their homecoming, was called off on March 12 due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida last minute.

With another launch window set, new challenges, including bad weather and technical glitches, raise concerns about further delays.

New Date of Crew-10 Launch

The next possible launch is scheduled for today at 7:26 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy, depending on the issue review.

NASA will start live coverage at 3:25 p.m. on NASA+. The Crew-10 spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on March 14, at 11:30 p.m.

The U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron has predicted a 95% chance of favourable weather for the launch. However, teams will also keep an eye on weather conditions along the Dragon spacecraft’s flight path.

Crew-9’s Return Hinges on Crew-10’s Success

If Crew-10 launches as planned, Crew-9 members- Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos’ Aleksandr Gorbunov will depart the ISS no earlier than March 19, pending weather conditions at the splashdown site off the Florida coast.

Mission Significance and Growing Concerns

Crew-10 marks SpaceX’s 10th operational crew rotation and 11th human spaceflight mission under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. With multiple delays, concerns are growing over how much longer Sunita Williams and her crew will remain in orbit, awaiting a safe return to Earth.

Also Read: Sunita Williams Breaks Spacewalking Record During 92nd US Spacewalk

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