NASA announced on Tuesday that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will remain aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until spring 2025, marking another extension of their mission. The astronauts, who launched on Boeing’s Starliner capsule on June 5, had originally expected to spend about a week in orbit. However, delays with the Starliner program and changes to NASA’s mission schedule have significantly extended their stay.
The mission was initially set for eight days as a test of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, but in September, NASA decided to send the spacecraft back to Earth uncrewed for further analysis, leaving Wilmore and Williams to remain on the ISS. Their return has now been postponed until late March or April, coinciding with delays in launching a new crew to replace them.
NASA’s next crew of four astronauts was originally slated to launch in February, with Wilmore and Williams scheduled to return alongside two other astronauts by the end of that month. However, the upcoming crew will fly aboard a brand-new SpaceX capsule, which requires additional preparation time. NASA now anticipates that launch no earlier than late March.
NASA DELAYS ASTRONAUTS’ HOMECOMING | Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ homecoming is now looking like it won’t happen until at least March 2025, NASA announced Tuesday. https://t.co/vxtnySrIze pic.twitter.com/bmj56GsV9v
— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) December 19, 2024
The space agency evaluated the possibility of using an existing SpaceX capsule to meet the original schedule but determined that waiting for the new spacecraft would be the better option. According to NASA, having overlapping crews on the ISS ensures a smoother transition and continuity in operations.
Most ISS missions typically last six months, with a few extending to one year. Wilmore and Williams’ mission will span approximately 10 months, making it significantly longer than initially planned. NASA has not indicated any concerns about the extended duration of their stay affecting their ability to complete the mission objectives.
Boeing’s Starliner program has faced repeated setbacks, delaying its integration into NASA’s crewed spaceflight operations. The company has yet to complete a fully operational astronaut mission, a key milestone for the Starliner capsule as it seeks to join SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as a primary means of transportation for NASA astronauts to and from the ISS.
Two astronauts stranded in space will now remain there until late March or April as NASA delays launching their replacements. Their eight-day mission stretched to nearly eight months after NASA returned the faulty Starliner capsule empty in September. https://t.co/OHjQNhwKd7 pic.twitter.com/iRMBJy9MWf
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) December 17, 2024
The upcoming SpaceX launch and the subsequent return of Wilmore and Williams are critical components of NASA’s ongoing efforts to maintain a consistent presence aboard the ISS while navigating logistical challenges in its commercial crew program.
