In a surprising and concerning development, NASA has announced that two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded in space for 80 days, will not return to Earth until February 2025. The astronauts launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for what was supposed to be a quick eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Unfortunately, their mission was extended due to serious technical issues with the spacecraft.

Boeing’s Starliner experienced problems with its thrusters and helium leaks shortly after docking at the ISS. As a result, NASA engineers decided to keep the capsule parked while they worked on finding a solution. Despite their best efforts, the issues have not been fully resolved, forcing NASA to delay the astronauts’ return to Earth.

Initially, NASA chose Boeing over Elon Musk’s SpaceX for this mission, a multi-billion dollar contract intended to advance U.S. space exploration. However, the complications with the Starliner have led NASA to call on SpaceX for assistance. Wilmore and Williams will now return as part of SpaceX’s Dragon Crew-9 mission, expected to launch in February 2025.

NASA officials stressed that this decision was made with the astronauts’ safety as the top priority. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reassured the public that they are committed to ensuring the crew’s safe return. He also expressed confidence that Boeing’s Starliner will be used for crewed missions in the future, despite the current setback.

The news of this extended stay is a reminder of the risks involved in space exploration and the importance of collaboration between different aerospace companies like Boeing and SpaceX. While Wilmore and Williams face more time in space than originally planned, NASA remains optimistic about their safe return and the future of space travel.