NASA has announced a delay in the return of astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), extending their stay from an original eight days to over nine months. The astronauts, who arrived on June 5, 2024, were initially scheduled to return in February 2025, but the launch of their replacement crew has now been postponed to no earlier than late March 2025.
The delay is attributed to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which experienced thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA decided it was too risky to attempt a return flight on the Starliner and opted to wait for the SpaceX Crew-10 mission to complete preparations for the new Dragon spacecraft.
During their extended mission, Williams and Wilmore have engaged in scientific experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS. The decision to delay their return allows for a 'handover period' to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities to the new crew, enhancing ongoing scientific work at the station.