Astronauts on 8 day trip may have to stay in space until 2025

What was originally planned as a few days mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft could now extend to as long as eight months, according to BBC.

The mission, which launched in June, was intended as a high-stakes test required before NASA could certify the Starliner for routine astronaut flights.

However, the mission has been significantly prolonged due to issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system, including a series of helium leaks.

The Starliner, carrying Wilmore and Williams, docked at the ISS on June 6, 2024. Since then, the astronauts have been part of a larger crew of nine aboard the station, all of whom are safe and well-supplied. NASA has confirmed that there is enough food and other supplies to support the extended stay.

Due to ongoing concerns about the Starliner’s safety, NASA is considering several options for the astronauts’ return.

One possibility is to bring them back to Earth using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which could potentially happen in February 2025 if the Starliner remains unsafe for re-entry.