Why NASA’s Astronauts Are Stuck on the ISS for Months

In September 2024, SpaceX launched a rescue mission from Cape Canaveral to bring back two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who got left behind on the International Space Station (ISS) in June after an issue with the Boeing spacecraft they launched on. However, they won’t return until February. Keep reading to find out why.

Why is it taking so long to bring the astronauts home?

The astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, won’t be back until February 2025 due to several logistical factors related to space mission schedules and spacecraft availability, not anything to do with SpaceXs ability to prepare for or complete the mission.

NASA operates the ISS on a carefully planned rotation system that the astronauts are bound to, even though they didn’t expect to be there, to ensure there are no problems or interruptions of ongoing missions. This rotation means Williams and Wilmore will have spent over eight months in space—far longer than their planned week-long mission.

The SpaceX rescue mission

To retrieve the stranded astronauts, SpaceX launched its Dragon spacecraft with two seats reserved for their return. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov went as a half crew to bring back Williams and Wilmore. They docked with the ISS on September 29.

The Boeing Starliner setback

The original mission involved Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to mark a new era in NASA’s partnership with Boeing to take astronauts to and from the ISS. However, the spacecraft experienced significant issues that led to safety concerns, including helium leaks and problems with multiple thrusters, forcing the astronauts to stay behind on the ISS.

Setbacks for SpaceX’s rescue mission

Unfortunately, the rescue mission itself wasn’t without setbacks. A problem during the deorbit burn of the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage raised concerns when the stage landed outside the targeted area. While it didn’t directly impact the rescue mission, it paused future launches until SpaceX could figure out the problem, and it marks the third time in just as many months the reusable rocket has experienced problems.

Why are the astronauts returning with SpaceX instead of Boeing?

Since Boeing’s Starliner was not considered safe for the astronauts’ return, NASA decided to use SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to bring them back. Since this mission was a test flight for Boeings Starliner, they will need to get to work fixing the problems they discovered.

Is there any danger to the astronauts staying on the ISS longer?

No, the astronauts are safe. The ISS is well-equipped to support extended stays, and the crew has sufficient supplies. They will continue to perform scientific experiments and other mission objectives during this extended period.

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