NASA astronauts stuck in space not set to return to Earth until at least late March
Two NASA astronauts who have been suspended in space for six months are facing yet another delay and will not return back to Earth until at least late March, according to NASA officials.
American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stuck in the Boeing Starliner capsule since their June 5 blastoff, where they originally planned for just a one-week mission to the International Space Station.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore making pizza in the International Space Station’s galley. NASA
Their Boeing vessel, however, was continuously plagued with issues, including leaks that made the thrusters malfunction. So, NASA opted to have the spacecraft return in September, but without its passengers.
The Starliner was Boeing’s first astronaut flight to the ISS. The company’s executives previously fought to have the astronauts fly back on the spacecraft on its initial return, but NASA determined that there was no way to do so safely.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams displays the SpaceTED hardware inside the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory module. NASA Johnson
SpaceX called to delay the originally scheduled February rescue launch. The astronautics company needed more time to prepare a new capsule.
Because of this delay, the duo won’t return until the end of March or early April — nearly 10 months after their departure.
Most space station missions only last six months, with very few reaching a whole year.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Nick Hague, and Don Pettit wearing US flag-themed socks aboard the International Space Station on Election Day, 2024. AP
Sunita “Suni” Williams, retired US Navy officer and NASA astronaut, addressing a Diwali reception via video from the International Space Station, hosted by President Joe Biden. AP
NASA floated the idea of using a different SpaceX capsule to send up the replacement crew so that the rest of its flights could remain as scheduled, but opted to wait for the new capsule instead.
NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials.
With Post wires
