Astronauts on Boeing Starliner Mission Face Extended Stay in Space
New Return Date Set for 2025 as SpaceX Steps In
In a press conference on Saturday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson revealed that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck in space for nearly three months, will not return to Earth until February 2025.
Their original nine-day mission, which began on June 5, was disrupted by helium leaks and propulsion problems, leaving them stranded at the International Space Station.
Instead of returning on June 14 as planned, the astronauts will have to spend an additional six months in space, awaiting the arrival of a SpaceX ship that will bring them back to Earth.
The decision to use a SpaceX Dragon mission to retrieve the astronauts was made after NASA expressed concerns about the safety of the Boeing Starliner, which will return to Earth unmanned.
The two astronauts will need to be equipped with new spacesuits compatible with the SpaceX Dragon, as their current gear is designed for the Starliner.
While NASA has downplayed the situation, stating that the astronauts are not “stranded” in space, it is clear that their extended stay has presented significant challenges.
