NASA astronauts 'stuck' in space issue update as they face further delay

Nasa plans to bring both astronauts back to Earth in late March. Butch Wilmore (L) and Suni Williams (R)
-Credit:2024 Getty Images


NASA astronauts who have been on the International Space Station since June 2024 are still in high spirits despite not being able to return to Earth. The two astronauts were supposed to spend eight days in space but their Boeing Starliner spacecraft experienced problems.

The spacecraft returned to Earth last year without the astronauts but they regularly stay in touch with their home planet and often livestream with NASA. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spoke to leaders of the space organisation earlier this month about their time on the ISS and told them they "don't feel like outcasts".

Suni added: "Eventually we wanna go home. We left our families a little while ago but we have a lot to do up here and we have to get that stuff done before we go."

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: HMPV virus outbreak symptoms and how it spreads explained

READ MORE: Joey Barton 'pushed wife to the ground and kicked her in the head', court told

They are both retired Navy Officers, and were scheduled to return home in February 2025 but this will not happen as a result of problems with the SpaceX rocket that was going to pick them up.

The International Space Station (ISS)
The International Space Station (ISS) -Credit:NASA/Getty

In August, Boeing insisted the astronauts are "not stuck" and Suni called the space station her "happy place". On January 16, Suni Williams, one of two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station, ventured outside for a spacewalk for the first time since arriving on board seven months ago.

The experienced astronaut, who has conducted many spacewalks during previous stays aboard the ISS teamed up with astronaut Nick Hague to perform maintenance on the craft. Their tasks included repairing equipment that governs station orientation, patch light filters on the NICER X-ray telescope, and replacing a reflector device on an international docking adapter.

Nasa plans to bring both astronauts back to Earth in late March aboard a spaceship built by SpaceX. They have continued their work aboard the ISS while awaiting a return home.