Overview

• Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, far exceeding the typical six-month mission duration.
• Their prolonged stay was caused by malfunctions in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, including helium leaks and propulsion issues, which rendered it unsafe for their return journey.
• NASA and SpaceX plan to bring the astronauts back to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, with their return contingent on the successful launch and docking of the Crew-10 mission, now rescheduled for Friday night.
• If the current schedule holds, Williams and Wilmore will end their mission with 286 consecutive days in orbit, making it the sixth-longest spaceflight by NASA astronauts in history.
• The delay has been challenging for the astronauts and their families, but Williams has remained engaged, including connecting with her hometown community and students during her extended mission.