Two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, were supposed to return from the International Space Station after a week-long trip. However, due to issues with the capsule’s propulsion system, they will now be stuck in space for closer to a year before they can come back to Earth. Despite this extended stay, officials assure that they are not stranded in space.
Williams and Wilmore launched to the space station in June, with plans to return in 8-10 days. However, problems with the capsule’s thrusters delayed their return. The astronauts are now expected to leave the space station in late February 2025.
Williams, who turned 59 in September, has a background in the Navy and has set records for women in spacewalks. Wilmore, also a retired Navy captain, has extensive flight experience and has spent 178 days in space before this mission.
The astronauts went to the space station as part of the first piloted test flight of the Boeing Starliner. NASA hopes to rely on capsules like the Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for future astronaut transportation.
NASA announced that Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth after the arrival of a new SpaceX crew at the space station, likely in late March. This delay is to allow time for the completion of a new Dragon spacecraft.
This situation is not unprecedented, as other astronauts, like Frank Rubio, have faced extended stays on the space station due to technical issues with their return spacecraft.
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