Two NASA astronauts embarked on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the troubled Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Their stay in space has been extended yet again, with a return to Earth not expected until late March 2025 at the earliest.

NASA Astronauts' Extended Orbit and Mission Delays

Initial Trip and Thruster Issues

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams lifted off in the Starliner on June 5 this year with the intention of a one-week trip. However, problems with the thrusters of the Starliner forced the spacecraft to remain docked to the ISS for months. Eventually, NASA decided to bring the astronauts home using a SpaceX Dragon craft instead. This meant the Starliner departed the station without the two astronauts but returned safely to Earth.

Joining the SpaceX Crew-9

After the initial setback, Wilmore and Williams joined the SpaceX Crew-9 along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The four members of Crew-9 were originally scheduled to return to Earth in February of next year, but this has now been postponed by a month. There have been tabloid concerns about the astronauts' well-being and nutrition on the station, but NASA has assured the public that they are safe and not losing weight. It is not uncommon for astronauts to spend up to a year on the ISS, and there are ample supplies available.

Handover and Mission Delays

The return of Crew-9 has been delayed to allow for a handover period with the upcoming Crew-10 mission. Both crews will be on the station simultaneously to transfer information and help the new crew settle in. The Crew-10 launch has been pushed back until late March to give NASA and SpaceX teams time to work on a new Dragon spacecraft. This new capsule is due to arrive at a SpaceX facility in Florida next month. "Fabrication, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is a meticulous process that demands great attention to detail," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program in a statement. "We appreciate the hard work of the SpaceX team in expanding the Dragon fleet to support our missions and the flexibility of the station program and expedition crews as we work together to complete the new capsule's readiness for flight."NASA has also confirmed that the ISS is well-stocked with food, water, oxygen, and other necessities. With the recent arrival of two resupply craft, the members of Crew-9 will not face any shortages while in orbit.