Two Nasa astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, have been stuck in space for over two months and are set to return to Earth in February 2025 with SpaceX. The astronauts, who are currently on the International Space Station (ISS), were originally scheduled for an eight-day mission that began on June 5th but will now spend around eight months in orbit.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which the astronauts will return to Earth on, experienced technical issues on its way to the ISS, including leaks of helium and malfunctioning thrusters. Boeing and SpaceX were both awarded billion-dollar contracts by Nasa to provide commercial space flights for its astronauts, with Boeing’s contract worth $4.2 billion and SpaceX’s contract worth $2.6 billion.
SpaceX has successfully sent nine crewed flights to space for Nasa, while this mission marks Boeing’s first attempt at a crewed mission. Engineers at Boeing and Nasa have been working to understand and address the technical issues with the Starliner craft, conducting tests and gathering data both in space and on Earth.
Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in space flight, especially during test flights. The decision has been made to extend the astronauts’ stay on the ISS until February 2025 so they can return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The extra time allows SpaceX to launch its next vehicle, with lift-off scheduled for the end of September.
Both astronauts have previously completed two long-duration stays in space and understand the risks of the test flight. They will spend the next few months carrying out scientific work, space maintenance, and possibly conducting spacewalks. Boeing continues to focus on the safety of the crew and spacecraft, preparing for a safe and successful un-crewed return to Earth.
