Sunita Williams: Is She Lost In Space? Another 10-Month Delay 

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June, are facing another delay in their long-awaited return to Earth

Originally set for a brief one-week mission, their stay is now expected to stretch to nearly 10 months, with their rescue mission postponed until spring 2025

The astronauts' troubles began when their initial spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner, was deemed unsafe for their return after encountering multiple issues

While the Starliner has since landed on Earth, the astronauts were left behind, leading NASA to turn to SpaceX for their rescue

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule was scheduled to bring Williams and Wilmore home in February 2025

However, NASA recently announced that the timeline has shifted again, with their return now expected in late March or possibly early April

Despite discussions of using a different SpaceX capsule to launch replacement crew members, the decision was made to delay the rescue mission and wait for the new spacecraft to be ready

While the delays have tested the patience of the veteran astronauts, Williams and Wilmore remain in good spirits

The astronauts, along with their colleagues, plan to honour holiday traditions by connecting with their families through video calls and enjoying a weightless celebration