NASA says astronauts stuck on the International Space Station will have to wait longer to return home.
Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams were scheduled to return just one week after their June debut.
Their stay was extended until February next year due to technical problems related to the experimental Starliner spacecraft, built by Boeing.
Now – after delays in launching a new capsule to the International Space Station – the duo will not return until late March or perhaps April.
NASA said the delay does not pose any danger to the astronauts.
NASA said in a statement: “The International Space Station recently received two resupply flights in November, and is well equipped with everything the crew needs, including food, water, clothing and oxygen. The resupply spacecraft also carried special items for the crew to celebrate the holidays aboard the orbital pad.” “.
Most space station missions last six months, and a few last up to a full year. So extending Butch and Sonny's long-awaited stay in space shouldn't be a problem, according to Dr Simon Barber, from the Open University.
“I'm sure they're already disappointed that they'll miss Christmas back home with people. But that's just another two months on a very long mission already, and I'm sure if you asked them, I'm sure they would tell you that the space station is a place they would love to be.” “In it.”
A new crew needs to launch before Willmore and Williams can return, and the next mission has been delayed by more than a month, according to the space agency.
NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch to the International Space Station in February 2025. The capsule carrying this crew was scheduled to be the one that would bring Butch and Sunny home, as well as NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Roscosmos astronaut Alexander Gorbunov as part of the excursion. Regular crew turnover.
But there has been a delay by private sector company SpaceX in preparing its brand-new Dragon capsule for the mission. This is now scheduled to be ready to fly no later than late March.
NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to transport the replacement crew to keep the flights on schedule.
But now she decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew.
