NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who were originally set to return to Earth in August 2024, will now remain in space until February 2025 due to issues with their spacecraft, according to reports.
The pair launched on June 5, 2024, for what was initially planned to be an eight-day mission. However, complications with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters, delayed their return, as reported by the BBC.
NASA has decided that the Starliner, originally tasked with bringing Williams and Wilmore back, will return to Earth uncrewed due to safety concerns. As a result, their return has been rescheduled for early 2025 via a SpaceX vehicle.
In a recent press conference, Williams and Wilmore spoke about their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
“This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,” said Williams, reflecting on her time aboard the ISS. Wilmore added, “There were some tough times all the way through. That’s how things go in this business.”
Military.com notes that this was their first public comment since the Starliner capsule that transported them to the ISS returned to Earth.
Currently, the two astronauts share the ISS with nine other crew members. Their daily routine, meticulously planned by mission control, typically starts at 06:30 GMT. Despite a fault on the ISS, which requires them to store urine instead of recycling it into drinking water, the astronauts continue their work, focusing on maintenance and scientific experiments.
Both astronauts remain optimistic about the challenges of their extended mission. “We are pushing the edges of the envelope in everything that we do. And it is not easy,” said Wilmore. “Maybe we do it because it’s hard.”
As veterans of Navy deployments, Williams and Wilmore expressed their adaptability to the situation, with Williams noting, “We’re not surprised when deployments get changed.”
Although they will miss the U.S. elections in November, Williams plans to vote from space, calling it “a very important duty” as a citizen.
The extended mission will allow the pair to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in February 2025. Initially designed to carry four astronauts, the vehicle will now launch with just two astronauts, enabling Williams and Wilmore to return at the mission’s conclusion.
Despite missing their families, both astronauts have expressed their continued enjoyment of their time aboard the ISS and the important work they are doing.
