The return of stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams has been delayed by another month. According to NASA, the extension will allow engineers from SpaceX and NASA to finalize the development of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft that will bring the astronauts home from the Starliner.
Initially, the Crew-10 mission was meant to replace SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Crew-9 launched in late September with just two passengers instead of the planned four, leaving space to retrieve Wilmore and Williams. However, plans have shifted yet again, postponing both the astronauts’ return and Crew-9’s rotation.
Steve Stich, director of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, emphasized that creating and testing a spacecraft of this complexity demands precision and time. To ensure a safe return, NASA has decided to scrutinize every detail of the new spacecraft, avoiding any repeat of previous issues.
- Read also: NASA Astronauts Stuck in Space Say There are ‘Strange Noises’ Coming from Starliner Capsule
NASA Delays Return of Stranded Astronauts AGAIN
For months, Boeing and NASA engineers have been troubleshooting the Starliner’s technical issues. Extensive testing and data collection—both in space and on Earth—have been undertaken to identify the root causes of helium leaks and thruster failures that initially plagued the spacecraft.
Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5 in what was supposed to be a brief Crew Flight Test mission. Originally planned to last just over a week, the mission was extended after technical complications made it unsafe for the spacecraft to return with its crew. NASA ultimately decided to bring the Starliner back uncrewed, leaving the astronauts aboard the ISS.
Now, Wilmore and Williams the stranded astronauts, wait in orbit, as NASA and Boeing work tirelessly to ensure a safe journey home.
Stay tuned for updates on this high-stakes mission—space travel may be the final frontier, but it’s far from risk-free.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Perla Vallejo in Ecoosfera.