# Hegseth shares message to SpaceX rescue mission crew: ‘Wish you Godspeed’

## The Defense secretary highlighted the US military's prominent role in the mission, saying: 'This is Army, Air Force and Navy tonight'

SpaceX and  the planned rocket launch of Crew-10 to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday due to a hydraulic issue with one of the ground systems, according to officials giving a live broadcast of the event.

NASA and SpaceX will get their next opportunity to send the rocket into space when the launch window opens no earlier than 7:03 p.m. EDT on Friday.

 shared a message of support for NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 ahead of their launch on Wednesday, highlighting the U.S. military's prominent role in the mission.

"I just want to take a brief moment to say we are praying for you," Hegseth said in a video posted to X. "We wish you Godspeed, and we look forward to welcoming you all home soon."

SpaceX's  had transported the pair of astronauts from Earth to the ISS. However, it returned to Earth unmanned in September. This came after Starliner suffered "helium leaks" and "issues with the spacecraft reaction control thrusters" while docking with the ISS.

"Now,  is also proud to have multiple branches and two active-duty U.S. military officers represented in the mission that's kicking off tonight between NASA and SpaceX. Yet, U.S. Army Colonel Anne McClain and U.S. Air Force Major Nichole Ayers," Hegseth said. "So this is Army, Air Force and Navy tonight."

In addition to McClain and Ayers, Crew-10 also includes an astronaut from 



NASA said there will be a "handover period" with the SpaceX Crew-10 before Wilmore and Williams head back to their home planet. They could return to Earth as early as Sunday.



Last week, Trump shared a special message for Wilmore and Williams.



Elon Musk has already indicated that he will bring the astronauts back home.



NASA offered a special message for Wilmore and Williams.

"Elon  is right now preparing a ship to go up and get them," the president told Fox News senior White House correspondent . "We love you, and we're coming up to get you, and you shouldn't have been up there so long."

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