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