They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025

On June 5, two American astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, embarked on a significant mission to the International Space Station (ISS). They were filled with excitement and anticipated returning home within a few days. However, their journey took an unexpected turn, and now, nearly two months later, they find themselves still in space, facing the possibility of not returning until 2025. This situation means they could miss the entire summer and even celebrate Christmas and New Year in the vastness of space. Mr. Wilmore, aged 61, and Ms. Williams, aged 58, traveled aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft, marking the first time this type of spacecraft carried astronauts. The mission was primarily a test to evaluate the spacecraft's performance. Unfortunately, complications arose as they approached the ISS, including leaks in the propulsion system and some thrusters shutting down. While they successfully reached the space station, they now require an alternative means of transportation to return home if the Starliner is deemed unsafe for re-entry. During a recent news briefing, NASA officials stated that no definitive decisions have been made regarding the next steps. Steve Stich, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, mentioned, 'Our primary option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner. ' However, he also emphasized that they are considering other options to ensure they are prepared for any situation. One potential plan involves attaching the two astronauts to a mission scheduled for launch in September, which would allow them to return to Earth in February 2025. This scenario would result in the astronauts spending over eight months aboard the ISS instead of the originally planned eight days. If the Crew Dragon spacecraft is utilized for their return, the Starliner would be sent back to Earth without any crew members, operating under computer control. NASA officials indicated that it may take a week or more to reach a final decision regarding the astronauts' return. Ken Bowersox, NASA's director of space operations, informed reporters that the likelihood of an uncrewed return of the Starliner has slightly increased based on recent developments. He stated, 'That’s why we’re looking more closely at that option to make sure that we can handle it. ' Utilizing a SpaceX spacecraft for the astronauts' return would be a setback for Boeing, which has been striving to compete with SpaceX and its more experienced Crew Dragon. Earlier this week, NASA employed a SpaceX rocket to deliver additional food and supplies to the ISS, including extra clothing for the two astronauts. In a brief press conference last month, the astronauts expressed their confidence in the Starliner and described it as 'truly impressive. ' Ms. Williams, a retired Navy helicopter pilot, is on her third mission to the ISS, while Mr. Wilmore, a former fighter jet pilot, has been to space twice before. During a recent briefing, Ms. Williams shared her feelings about being in space, stating, 'It feels like coming back home. It feels good to float around. It feels good to be in space and work up here with the International Space Station team. ' Boeing had hoped that the successful launch of the Starliner would lead to regular missions to the ISS, while the SpaceX Crew Dragon has been approved for NASA missions since 2020. Although the astronauts will spend significantly more time in space than they initially planned, they are not alone in this experience. Other astronauts have spent even longer periods in space. For instance, Russian astronaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest time spent in space, with 437 days aboard the Mir space station in the mid-1990s. Last year, Frank Rubio returned from the ISS after spending 371 days, the longest duration for an American astronaut. Additionally, Oleg Kononenko, currently aboard the ISS, is the first person to have spent over 1,000 days in space throughout his career. Despite their extended stay, both Wilmore and Williams have maintained a positive outlook. Ms. Williams remarked, 'I’m not complaining that we’re here for a couple extra weeks. ' As it stands, the two astronauts may remain in space for many more weeks to come.