NASA delays rescue mission for stranded ISS astronauts, less than an hour before launch

NASA on Wednesday unexpectedly canceled its launch of a SpaceX rocket to rescue two stranded astronauts on the International Space Station, less than one hour before the launch was scheduled to take place. 

The space agency did not explain why it canceled the flight, and did not immediately schedule a new date. 

"Crew10 status: NASA and SpaceX are standing down on the March 12 launch attempt," the agency said on X.

NASA has repeatedly delayed rescue operations for stranded astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were only expected to be on the station for a week. The pair have been stranded in space since June because of safety issues related to their Boeing spacecraft. 

President Donald Trump in January ordered Elon Musk's company SpaceX to conduct the rescue operation. The return was originally scheduled for February, but it was later pushed back to early March. 

The rescue operation will feature astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, and Japanese mission specialist Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, whenever it does take place.

The launch had been scheduled to take place at 7:48 p.m. ET.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.