Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June, are now facing an extended stay in orbit after delays in their return plans.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty.

Mission Challenges

Originally planned as an eight-to-ten-day mission, the Starliner encountered significant issues, including propulsion system failures. The spacecraft returned to Earth empty in September 2023, leaving Wilmore and Williams stranded on the ISS.

Their return was initially scheduled for February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon capsule. However, NASA recently announced further delays, with their replacement Crew-10 Dragon mission now set to launch no earlier than late March 2025, pushing their return date to at least April 2025.

Reasons for Delay

NASA cited the need for additional processing time for a new Dragon spacecraft as the reason for the delay. According to Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program:

“Fabrication, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is a painstaking endeavor that requires great attention to detail.”

Extended Mission Duration

If the revised timeline holds, Wilmore and Williams will have spent nearly nine months aboard the ISS — far longer than their original week-long mission.

Sunita “Suni” Williams speaking from the ISS. Credit: Kevin Dietsch / Getty

The delay impacts not only the astronauts but also the operational schedule of the Crew-9 capsule, which cannot return to Earth until a seamless handover to Crew-10 is completed.

Health Concerns Addressed

Recent photos of Williams from the ISS sparked concern on social media about her health. However, Williams reassured the public, explaining that the altered appearance is due to a phenomenon known as fluid shift, a common occurrence in microgravity that redistributes bodily fluids.

In a recent interview, Williams joked about her fitness progress:

“My thighs are a little bit bigger, my butt is a little bit bigger,” crediting the ISS’s rigorous exercise regimen, including squats, for the change.

Ongoing Efforts for Mission Success

NASA emphasized the importance of the delays to ensure the safety and readiness of the new spacecraft:

“We appreciate the hard work by the SpaceX team to expand the Dragon fleet and the flexibility of the ISS crew.”

Concerns have been raised about Suni Williams following a new image surfacing. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty

As the mission continues, Wilmore and Williams remain critical to ongoing research and maintenance aboard the ISS, demonstrating resilience and adaptability under unexpected circumstances.

Featured image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty.