NASA postpones pick-up again: astronauts stuck on space station

Washington, D.C. (USA) - The two astronauts were actually only supposed to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS). But this short trip turned into a stay of several months - and now there is another extension.

The two astronauts Suni Williams (59, left) and Butch Wilmore (61, right) have been passengers on the International Space Station (ISS) since June.
The two astronauts Suni Williams (59, left) and Butch Wilmore (61, right) have been passengers on the International Space Station (ISS) since June.  © Uncredited/NASA/AP/dpa

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that the return of the two astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore has been postponed until the end of March 2025.

The original plan was for the two to fly back in the same space capsule eight days after their arrival on June 5 of this year.

However, there were already some technical difficulties with their "Boeing Starliner space capsule" during the outward flight, which is why it was decided to let it fly back to Earth unmanned.

Production and preparation take longer than expected

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are expected to land back on Earth at the end of March 2025.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are expected to land back on Earth at the end of March 2025.  © John Raoux/AP/dpa

NASA has now postponed the date of their pick-up even further, as the production and preparation of the "Dragon" spacecraft with which the two space travelers are to be picked up is taking longer than expected.

Williams and Wilmore are not due to return to Earth in February as planned, but at the end of March.

In a statement, Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said: "The manufacturing, assembly, testing and final integration of a new spacecraft is a painstaking endeavor that requires great attention to detail."

NASA and SpaceX also plan for the space capsule that picks up Williams and Wilmore to carry other astronauts to the ISS at the same time.