Astronauts call home from ISS on Friday about their plight
- Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner failed to return them home.
- NASA has announced that the astronauts will remain in space for at least another five months, with a return planned for February 2025.
- The upcoming press conference will address their ongoing plight and the challenges faced during their extended mission.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, following a failed return attempt with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Initially intended for an 8-day mission, their stay has been extended due to multiple helium leaks that caused thruster malfunctions. The Starliner returned to Earth without its crew to make way for SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which is scheduled to bring the astronauts home in February 2025. The astronauts are set to hold a press conference on Friday at 2:15 p.m. to discuss their situation, which has now lasted several months. Their extended stay in low Earth orbit will total eight months, raising concerns about the implications for their health and well-being. NASA has emphasized a commitment to safety in delaying their return, as the agency continues to address the issues that have plagued Boeing's spacecraft. The Starliner’s first uncrewed test flight in 2019 encountered significant problems, and the subsequent 2022 test revealed even more flaws, necessitating costly repairs. Recently, alarming noises from the spacecraft prompted Wilmore to alert ground control, but NASA reassured the public that the sounds were due to audio configuration issues rather than a serious malfunction. As the astronauts prepare to communicate their experiences, the situation highlights the challenges of space travel and the importance of safety protocols in ensuring the well-being of crew members in unexpected circumstances.