NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who initially embarked on an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5, have now had their stay extended to eight months. This decision comes as NASA announced another delay in their return, citing complications with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
The pair had originally flown on Boeing’s first astronaut mission to the ISS, but due to ongoing technical issues with the Starliner, NASA postponed its return journey. To bring the astronauts back, NASA has now scheduled Elon Musk’s SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon capsule for February 2025, allowing time to finalize a new Dragon spacecraft.
In a blog update, NASA stated, “The change gives NASA and SpaceX teams time to complete processing on a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission.” NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager, Steve Stich, emphasized the complexity of preparing a new spacecraft, highlighting the extensive fabrication, testing, and integration processes required.
The delay stems from the need to launch a new crew to relieve Williams and Wilmore before their return. This next mission’s launch has been pushed back another month, extending their time aboard the ISS.
Concerns have arisen regarding Sunita Williams’ prolonged stay in space, with recent images showing signs of weight loss. Prolonged missions in microgravity are known to impact astronauts’ health, increasing the urgency of their return to Earth.
