NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) since June. Their mission, originally planned for eight days, will now last over nine months.
NASA announced on Tuesday that the astronauts, along with Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will return to Earth next year. The Crew-10 mission, scheduled for February, has been pushed back to late March 2025.
New Dragon Capsule Delays Return
NASA and SpaceX need more time to prepare a new Dragon spacecraft. It will arrive in Florida for launch preparation in January.
“Building and testing a spacecraft takes time and precision,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew director. He thanked the SpaceX team for their hard work.
“We’re expanding the Dragon fleet and making sure the spacecraft is ready for flight,” Stich added. He praised the ISS crew for their patience and flexibility.
Technical Problems Extend Mission
Williams and Wilmore reached the ISS as part of Boeing’s Starliner test flight. The mission aimed to win NASA approval for routine flights. However, technical problems, including failed thrusters during docking, delayed their return.
ISS Crew Well-Prepared
NASA assured that the ISS crew has everything they need. Two supply missions in November delivered food, water, clothing, and oxygen. Special items for holiday celebrations were also included.
For Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov, the prolonged mission is another test of resilience. NASA remains focused on bringing them home safely next year.