By Hash Techs 
American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally set to spend just a week in space, but their stay at the International Space Station has been extended to six months. NASA has announced that they will now return in late March 2025.
Summary of essential information to know.
- Astronauts Wilmore and Williams were supposed to spend only one week in space, but they have been there for over six months.
- Their arrival has been delayed until March 2025 because of issues with the Boeing spacecraft and the SpaceX capsule not being ready on time.
- The situation also affects the release of the replacements, which was renamed for February 2025.
What occurred?
The mission, Boeing’s inaugural manned flight to the International Space Station in June 2024, was intended for a one-week duration for the astronauts. However, technical issues with the Starliner capsule’s propulsion system resulted in NASA deciding to return the capsule to Earth without passengers. Consequently, Wilmore and Williams had to prolong their time in space.
SpaceX, the company in charge of developing a new crew capsule to replace the current one, asked for an extension to complete the preparations, opting to prioritize safety by waiting for the new unit to be ready instead of using a different capsule to speed up the process.
How much time can that endure?
Missions at the International Space Station typically last six months but may be extended up to a year. Wilmore and Williams will now spend a minimum of nine months in space before the arrival of replacements in February 2025 and their return in March.