NASA Astronauts Extend Unexpected ISS Stay to Nearly 10 Months

Originally planned for an eight-day mission, two astronauts continue their work on the ISS due to delays in their return flight.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been aboard the International Space Station since June 2024 after propulsion issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft altered their mission timeline.
The pair were initially scheduled for an eight-day mission but will now spend close to 10 months in space, with their return tentatively set for April 2025 after the arrival of NASA's Crew-10 mission.
NASA redirected the Starliner spacecraft back to Earth without its crew for safety reasons, leaving Wilmore and Williams to await a ride home aboard SpaceX's Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft.
The astronauts report high morale, ample food supplies, and a busy work schedule, including science experiments, spacewalks, and maintenance tasks on the ISS.
Williams has become the second-highest NASA astronaut in total days spent in space, with over 538 days across multiple missions, trailing only Peggy Whitson.