Sunita Williams may not return to Earth for quite some time. Speaking to the media, NASA revealed that the astronaut and her colleague Butch Wilmore could remain in space for at least six more months. The space agency revealed that it is considering extending the stay of two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until early 2025 due to ongoing complications with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.If NASA chooses to bring the Starliner back uncrewed, Butch and Suni would stay on the ISS until the end of February 2025. In this scenario, NASA would adjust the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in late September, sending only two crew members instead of the usual four. Butch and Suni would then return to Earth after the Crew-9 mission concludes early next year.Originally intended as a short test mission, the astronauts could now return to Earth on a SpaceX flight, allowing the Starliner to return uncrewed. NASA is currently analyzing additional data on Starliner’s performance and expects to make a final decision late next week or early the following week. The malfunction of the thrusters, which are critical for maintaining the capsule’s orientation during reentry, is a major concern.
This mission, which began with high expectations, has faced numerous technical challenges since arriving at the ISS. Engine malfunctions and helium leaks have raised serious doubts about the Starliner’s ability to return safely to Earth. These problems have placed astronauts Williams and Wilmore in a lengthy and uncertain situation that far exceeded their originally planned week-long mission.
NASA’s collaboration with Boeing and SpaceX is a key part of its approach to securing various transportation methods for astronauts after the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. SpaceX achieved its first crewed launch in 2020, a significant milestone, while Boeing has encountered a number of challenges. A faulty uncrewed test flight in 2019 resulted in Boeing having to make expensive repairs and modifications, delaying the Starliner’s first crewed mission until this year.
