SpaceX scrubbed the launch of a relief crew on Wednesday night, delaying the handoff for NASA astronauts who have been awaiting a return trip to Earth.

Takeoff was slated for Wednesday evening from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but the company called off the launch attempt because of an issue with the launchpad’s ground system. The problem stemmed from a hydraulics system used to control one of two clamps that hold on to the upper portion of the rocket as it sits vertically on the ground pad before launch.

The NASA and SpaceX mission is on track to launch NASA's Crew-10 mission to the Space Station Friday night at 7:03 p.m. Stranded astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore head back to Earth Wednesday.

Astronauts Sunita Williams, who grew up in Needham, and Butch Wilmore have been living on the space station since June after the Boeing Starliner capsule they arrived on experienced issues while docking.

NASA and SpaceX on Friday will count down to a long-awaited crewed rocket launch that will allow them to bring home U.S. astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck on the International Space Station for nine months.

The flight was scrubbed on Wednesday night, and the astronauts will return to the launchpad for their trip to the International Space Station.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return to Earth has further been delayed as NASA and SpaceX postponed Crew-10 launch to Friday. Stay tuned for more updates

After an unexpected nine months in orbit, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are waiting for the arrival of Crew-10 before they head home. That launch is now expected for Friday

SpaceX delayed the launch of a new crew to the International Space Station on Wednesday in a mission that would pave the way for marooned astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to finally return home.