Delayed Return: NASA Astronauts' Extended Stay at ISS Due to Boeing Capsule Issues

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will remain at the International Space Station as engineers address thruster failures and helium leaks in Boeing's Starliner capsule. Originally scheduled to return in mid-June, their stay is now extended indefinitely. NASA and Boeing are working to fix the issues before confirming a return date.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set for an extended stay at the International Space Station. Engineers continue to tackle the problems affecting their Boeing capsule, officials revealed on Thursday.

The astronauts were originally slated for a brief visit, returning in mid-June. However, thruster failures and helium leaks have led NASA and Boeing to prolong their mission. Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager, stated that there is no confirmed return date yet, emphasizing the need for a safe resolution.

Efforts to find a solution are ongoing, with engineers recently completing tests on a backup thruster in New Mexico. The degraded seals causing the failures are under scrutiny, and additional thruster tests are planned for this weekend. Despite SpaceX's successful crew missions since 2020, Boeing's initial test flight with astronauts faces significant challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)