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March 16, 2025

Andrew Campbell 

SpaceX has postponed its planned March 12 launch to the International Space Station (ISS) due to a last-minute ground system issue, delaying the arrival of a replacement crew. This setback means NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been on the ISS for over nine months, must wait longer before returning to Earth. The relief team is now expected to arrive late on March 15.

Wilmore and Williams initially launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5 for what was meant to be a brief mission. However, helium leaks and thruster failures rendered the capsule unsafe for return, prompting NASA to leave the astronauts on the ISS while investigating the issue. Plans to bring them back in February aboard a SpaceX capsule were also delayed due to battery repairs, leading SpaceX to switch to a previously used capsule to expedite their return.

Their prolonged stay has drawn significant attention, with political figures weighing in on the delays. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump have promised to accelerate the astronauts’ return, blaming previous government decisions for the setbacks.