The return of astronauts Barry Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been on the International Space Station for more than six months, has been delayed by NASA to the end of March or possibly April, instead of the initial plan of February.
The pair began the first crewed mission aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule on June 5, planning to spend just a week in space. But technical issues led to the capsule’s return to Earth in September, prolonging the astronauts’ stay to an eight-month mission.
The delay is caused by the new crew launch being postponed, resulting in SpaceX needing additional time to prepare the capsule for transporting the new members to the ISS. The space agency originally planned to use another capsule to stick to the schedule but chose to wait for the new ship for safety and efficiency reasons.
Nasa emphasizes the coordination of teams on the station to enable crew exchanges and ensure operational continuity. EEI missions typically span six months, with some potentially lasting up to a year. The replacement crew is set to arrive at the end of March, with the current occupants returning thereafter.