Stranded Astronauts: NASA Delays Starliner Crew’s Return Until March

NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, won’t be coming home anytime soon. Their much-delayed return, originally slated for February 2025, has now been pushed to late March to allow SpaceX and NASA engineers more time to finalise a new Crew Dragon spacecraft, explained Wired.

The saga began with Boeing’s Starliner, which was supposed to be a game-changer in commercial space travel. The capsule was sent to the ISS on a mission to test its capabilities, including launch, docking, and return systems. But shortly after takeoff, five of the Starliner’s 28 thrusters failed before docking. While Boeing claimed the spacecraft could still safely return the astronauts, NASA wasn’t convinced and deemed the risk too high.

MORE: The Astronaut Wears Prada: The First Woman on the Moon Will Rock This Spacesuit

DISCOVER: Virgin Galactic Hosted The Most Women Flown in a Single Mission to Space

Image Courtesy of Space.com

Enter SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space juggernaut, which was tapped to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth. SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission launched in September, but the astronauts’ return has been delayed repeatedly as NASA and SpaceX focus on perfecting a new Crew Dragon capsule.

“Fabrication, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is a painstaking endeavor that requires great attention to detail,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to Elyna Niles-Canes at NASA.

MORE: AI Breakthrough Predicts Breast Cancer 5 Years Early—And We Finally Know How It Works

DISCOVER:Researchers are training AI to detect breast cancer

The latest timeline indicates the astronauts will return only after the Crew-10 mission arrives at the ISS, which is now scheduled for late March 2025 at the earliest. This handover period is crucial for ensuring a seamless transition of responsibilities aboard the ISS, from ongoing science experiments to orbital maintenance.

The Toll of Spaceflight

While NASA insists the astronauts have enough supplies to sustain their extended stay—thanks to resupply flights in November—experts are raising concerns about the potential health risks of prolonged space missions. Wilmore and Williams will have spent over nine months aboard the ISS by the time they return, which is longer than the typical six month missions.

Image Courtesy of CNN

MORE: This female-founded start up has developed an AI that can spot breast cancer

DISCOVER: Prada’s spacesuits are going to be out of this world… literally 

Since the 1970s, scientists have studied the effects of space on the human body, identifying risks such as bone mass loss, weakened heart function, and even kidney damage. “The structure and function of the kidneys can suffer permanent damage,” warns a recent University College London study, though these effects are more pronounced in astronauts venturing far beyond Earth

MORE: The Science Behind Coperni’s Ultra-Light, Space-Age Tote

DISCOVER: ‘AI’ searches rocket to the highest point in history

Despite the challenges, NASA notes that extended stays are critical for research on human adaptation to space, paving the way for future lunar and Martian exploration. Some astronauts have even completed year-long missions to contribute to this vital data.

For now, Wilmore and Williams remain part of this ongoing experiment in human endurance and space travel. Their delayed return underscores the challenges—and stakes—of pushing the boundaries of space exploration. After all, when you’re living off-planet, delays aren’t just inconvenient—they’re life-changing.