Two American astronauts who flew to the International Space Station on a test mission aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft face the prospect of remaining in orbit until 2025 due to technical malfunctions in their spacecraft.
Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who left for the International Space Station on June 5, were expected to return to Earth in a few days. However, after nearly two months, they were stuck in space due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, including leaks in the propulsion system. The astronauts could now spend more than eight months on the ISS, instead of the original eight days planned.
NASA is considering options to bring the astronauts back, including a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, scheduled to launch in September. If that plan is approved, Wilmore and Williams could return in February 2025, significantly extending their time on the station.
The change would be a major setback for Boeing, which had hoped the Starliner mission would prove the viability of its capsule for future space travel. Meanwhile, NASA continues to evaluate the best options for ensuring the safe return of astronauts.
