Pair of astronauts stuck in space at ISS as return to Earth further delayed

Dec 18, 2024

Jack Aylmer Anchor

By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

Boeing Starliner astronauts stuck in space at the International Space Station received news that their return to Earth faces further delays. The two arrived at the ISS more than six months ago for an eight to 10-day voyage.

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Multiple mechanical issues with the Starliner forced NASA to return the capsule without Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams in September. The astronauts stayed behind at the ISS due to safety concerns.

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The SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon Capsule launched in September was supposed to return Wilmore and Williams home in February 2025.

However, NASA announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17, that they pushed back the date of SpaceX Crew-10’s February launch. Wilmore and Williams’ replacements will travel aboard the SpaceX Crew-10, which is now on track to launch no earlier than late March 2025.

SpaceX Crew-10 team reportedly needs time to “complete processing,” a debriefing on ongoing research and maintenance aboard the ISS before Williams and Wilmore can return to Earth on the Crew-9.

NASA has not revealed how long that may take.

The extended stay in space reportedly prompted concerns for the astronauts’ health. Although, other NASA astronauts have stayed on the ISS longer.

A “Twin Study” kept astronaut Scott Kelly aboard the station for 340 days from 2015-2016. Most recently, astronaut Frank Rubio became the first American to spend more than 365 straight days in space.

Kelly reported several health problems after his time in space, particularly issues with his vision and cognitive abilities.

Tags: astronaut, International Space Station, Kennedy Space Center, NASA, Space Technology, SpaceX

[JACK AYLMER]

A PAIR OF ASTRONAUTS STUCK AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS JUST GOT NEWS THAT THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT EVEN LONGER BEFORE RETURNING TO EARTH.

BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNITA WILLIAMS WERE LAUNCHED INTO SPACE ABOARD THE BOEING STARLINER IN JUNE AND WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR EIGHT TO 10 DAYS.

INSTEAD, MULTIPLE MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THE STARLINER FORCED NASA TO EVENTUALLY RETURN THE CAPSULE WITHOUT WILMORE AND WILLIAMS IN SEPTEMBER.

THE ASTRONAUTS STAYING BEHIND AT THE I-S-S DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS.

THE SPACE-X CREW-9 DRAGON CAPSULE LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER WAS SUPPOSED TO RETURN WILMORE AND WILLIAMS HOME IN FEBRUARY WHEN THE SPACE-X CREW-10 WAS SCHEDULED FOR LIFT OFF.

NASA ANNOUNCING TUESDAY, THAT DATE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK, AGAIN.

REVEALING WILMORE AND WILLIAMS’ “REPLACEMENTS” WILL BE TRAVELING ABOARD THE SPACE-X CREW-10 NOW SET TO LAUNCH NO EARLIER THAN LATE MARCH.

SPACE-X CREW-10 TEAM WILL NEED TIME TO “COMPLETE PROCESSING” AND A DEBRIEFING ON ONGOING RESEARCH AND MAINTENANCE ABOARD THE I-S-S BEFORE WILLIAMS AND WILMORE CAN RETURN TO EARTH ON THE CREW-9.

NASA HASN’T REVEALED HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE.

BUT THE ASTRONAUTS ARE NOW REPORTEDLY LOOKING AT A RETURN DATE OF LATE MARCH OR APRIL, WHICH WOULD MARK AT LEAST NINE MONTHS IN SPACE.

NASA SAYS THE “FINAL INTEGRATION OF A NEW SPACECRAFT IS A PAINSTAKING ENDEAVOR.”

ADDING, IT APPRECIATES “THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE STATION PROGRAM AND EXPEDITION CREWS.”

THE EXTENDED STAY IN SPACE HAS REPORTEDLY PROMPTED SOME CONCERNS FOR THE ASTRONAUT’S HEALTH IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

THOUGH OTHER NASA ASTRONAUTS HAVE STAYED ON THE I-S-S LONGER.

NOTABLY, A “TWIN STUDY” KEPT SCOTT KELLY ABOARD THE STATION FOR 340 DAYS FROM 2015-TO-2016 AND MOST RECENTLY, FRANK RUBIO BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO SPEND MORE THAN 365 STRAIGHT DAYS IN SPACE.

KELLY DID REPORT SEVERAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AFTER HIS TIME IN SPACE, PARTICULARY ISSUES WITH VISION AND SLOWER COGNITIVE ABILITIES.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.