NASA Astronauts Mark Six Months in Space After Extended Mission

Originally planned as a weeklong test flight, the mission was extended due to safety concerns with Boeing's Starliner capsule.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have spent six months aboard the International Space Station, with their return now scheduled for February 2025.
The mission, intended as a short test of Boeing's Starliner capsule, was extended after thruster failures and helium leaks made the spacecraft unsafe for return.
The astronauts have integrated into the station's crew, conducting experiments, performing maintenance, and taking on leadership roles, with Williams serving as station commander since September.
NASA reassigned Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX return flight, delaying their return to maintain the station's six-month crew rotation schedule.
Boeing is using insights from the astronauts to investigate the Starliner's issues, though no timeline has been provided for the spacecraft's next flight.