Two NASA astronauts stranded in space suffered new delays after problems aboard Boeing's Starliner earlier this year.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were part of Boeing's long-delayed mission in early June. The first launch was delayed several times due to thruster failure and helium leaks.
Williams and Wilmore's trip was originally scheduled to last eight to 10 days, but the Starliner caused NASA concerns and left them behind on the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule returned to Earth in September.
SpaceX's new spacecraft was scheduled to be used for the return mission for two astronauts, but NASA postponed the mission from February to at least late March.
“NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 is currently targeted to launch a crew of four to the International Space Station by late March 2025.” NASA said in a release:.
Due to further delays in returning home, Wilmore and Williams will remain on the ISS for nine months.
NASA said the timeline change will allow the team to “complete processing” of a new spacecraft for the mission. It is expected to arrive at the company's Florida facility in early January.
“Manufacturing, assembling, testing, and ultimately integrating a new spacecraft is a painstaking process that requires meticulous attention to detail,” said Steve Stitch, NASA's commercial crew program manager, in a statement. mentioned in.
