NASA Astronauts Face Extended Stay on ISS Due to Starliner Issues

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, originally set for a one-week mission, will remain in orbit until at least late March 2025 after safety concerns grounded their return spacecraft.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been on the International Space Station since June 2024, far exceeding their planned one-week mission duration.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which transported the astronauts to the ISS, experienced thruster malfunctions, prompting NASA to deem it unsafe for their return to Earth.
NASA plans to bring the astronauts home using a SpaceX Dragon capsule, but the Crew-9 mission's return has been delayed until late March 2025 to accommodate the arrival of Crew-10 and ensure proper handover procedures.
Despite their extended stay, NASA has confirmed that the astronauts are healthy, well-supplied, and continuing their work on the ISS alongside the Crew-9 team.
The delay highlights ongoing challenges with Boeing's Starliner program, raising questions about its future role in NASA's commercial crew missions as SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft gains prominence.