They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025 (2024)

They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025 (1)They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025 (2)EPA

When two American astronauts blasted off on a test mission to the International Space Station on 5 June, they were expecting to be back home in a matter of days.

But things didn't quite go to plan.

In fact, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams are still there, floating high above the Earth nearly two months later.

The pair - who are stuck indefinitely - now face the sudden prospect of missing the summer entirely and even spending Christmas and New Year in space.

Mr Wilmore, 61, and Ms Williams, 58, flew a Boeing Starliner spacecraft to the station. It was the first flight of its kind with people on board and was a test designed to see how the new spacecraft performs before it is used more regularly.

Problems, however, emerged as it made its approach. These included leaks in its propulsion system and some of its thrusters shutting down.

So while they made it to the space station safely, they will need an alternative mode of transport to get home if the Starliner is not deemed safe to return to Earth.

At a news briefing on Wednesday, Nasa officials said no firm decisions had been made when it comes to next steps.

"Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner," Steve Stich, manager of Nasa's Commercial Crew Program, said. "However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.”

One potential option being considered, they said, is to attach the two astronauts to a mission that is scheduled to launch in September, and return them to earth with that mission in February 2025.

That flight to the space station will be made by a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft. The initial plan was for four crew members to be aboard, but two of the seats could be left empty if needed.

That plan would mean the astronauts would spend more than eight months – rather than eight days – aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

If the Crew Dragon is used, the Starliner craft would be returned to Earth without any crew, under computer control.

Nasa officials said it could take a week or more for a final decision to be made.

Ken Bowersox, Nasa's director of space operations, told reporters the chances of an uncrewed return of the Starliner “have increased a little bit based on where things have gone over the last week or two.”"That's why we're looking more closely at that option to make sure that we can handle it," he said.

Using a SpaceX craft to return the astronauts would be a blow to Boeing, which has for years tried to compete with the company and its more experienced Crew Dragon.

Earlier this week, Nasa used a SpaceX rocket to deliver more food and supplies to the ISS, including extra clothes for the two astronauts.

Last month, in a short press briefing, the pair said they were "absolutely confident” in the return trip and Starliner was “truly impressive.”

This is the third stint aboard the ISS for Ms Williams, a retired Navy helicopter pilot, while Mr Wilmore is a former fighter jet pilot who has been to space twice before.

“We've been thoroughly busy up here, integrated right into the crew,” Ms Williams told reporters during a recent briefing call.

“It feels like coming back home. It feels good to float around. It feels good to be in space and work up here with the International Space Station team," she said. "So yeah, it’s great to be up here.”

Boeing was hoping that the maiden Starliner mission would pave the way for regular use of its capsule for missions back and forth to the station. The Space X Crew Dragon has been approved for Nasa missions since 2020.

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Although the astronauts will spend much more time in space than they initially planned, others have spent much longer periods above the Earth's surface. Russian Valeri Polyakov spent 437 days in space in aboard the Mir space station in the mid-1990s.

Last year, Frank Rubio returned from the ISS after 371 days, the longest time an American has spent in space.

And Russia's Oleg Kononenko, also currently aboard the ISS, is the first person to have spent more than 1,000 days in space during the course of their career.

In their briefings and interviews, the two Americans have been upbeat about their situation. "I’m not complaining that we’re here for a couple extra weeks," Ms Williams said last month.

As things stand, the pair may be there for many more weeks to come.

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They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025 (2024)

FAQs

They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025? ›

Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded in space since June 5 due to issues with Boeing's Starliner

Starliner
The Boeing Starliner (or CST-100) is a spacecraft designed to transport crew to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and other low-Earth-orbit destinations. Developed by Boeing under NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP), it consists of a reusable crew capsule and an expendable service module.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Boeing_Starliner
spacecraft, may return to Earth in February 2025 on SpaceX's Crew Dragon if the Starliner remains unsafe. The original mission was for 8 DAYS!

Why are the astronauts stuck in space until 2025? ›

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were meant to go to the International Space Station (ISS) on a roughly ten-day mission. Instead, they have been “stuck” there since June, as the reliability of their spacecraft – Boeing Starliner – has not met NASA's strict standards for crewed flight.

Who is stuck in space in 2024? ›

The Boeing Starliner craft that transported Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore to the ISS in June, the company's first crewed mission, had experienced multiple problems and was returning to Earth without people on board. A SpaceX rescue craft, meanwhile, couldn't reach the astronauts until February 2025.

How long will astronauts be stuck in space? ›

NASA decided last month they won't be flying back in their Boeing Starliner capsule, but will wait for a ride with SpaceX in late February, pushing their mission to more than eight months.

What is the space launch in 2025? ›

NASA delays ESCAPADE Mars launch on Blue Origin's giant New Glenn rocket to 2025 to avoid potential cost overruns. The Mars launch, previously scheduled for Oct. 13, will now take place in spring of 2025 at the earliest.

What will happen in 2030 space? ›

The International Space Station is set to retire in 2030, but that doesn't mean humanity will lose its toehold in Earth orbit. NASA is encouraging the development of private space stations, with the hope that at least one such outpost will be up and running before the ISS is steered to its fiery death.

How much do astronauts get paid? ›

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

However, NASA's website lists its 2024 astronaut pay as $152,258 a year; its 2020 call for astronaut candidates listed a range of $104,898 to $161,141 at GS levels 13-14.

Who stayed in space for 1 year? ›

An agency wide All-Hands event on May 25 at NASA Headquarters featured Deputy Administrator Dava Newman and retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, reflecting on Kelly's one-year mission aboard the International Space Station.

Will there be space travel in 2050? ›

By the year 2050, humans will have established a permanent presence on the Moon and a research base on Mars, while space travel will become a regular occurrence for many people.

Has anyone been left out in space? ›

NASA never lost an astronaut in space. The two shuttle accidents one was on lift off so it was still in the atmosphere. The other one was in reentry so it was coming into the atmosphere.

How long would a human survive in space? ›

Without a space suit, you'd lose consciousness in about 15 seconds, die after 90 seconds and freeze solid within 12 to 26 hours.

Why can't astronauts stay in space for too long? ›

Bones and muscles weaken

Muscles weaken and bone mass decreases if you stay for a long time in space. Therefore, research is underway to verify, in space, the effects of existing drugs for preventing bone loss by astronauts.

Do astronauts stay in space for years? ›

Astronauts on the International Space Station, or ISS, often spend six to 12 months in space, orbiting Earth. It can be a little cramped staying inside the space station all that time.

What happens in 2025 in space? ›

Spaceflight in 2025 promises to follow the 2020s trend of record breaking orbital launches and increased developments in lunar, Mars and low-earth orbit exploration. NASA plans to launch the Artemis 2 mission on the Space Launch System, sending astronauts around the Moon on a ten-day lunar flyby.

What will happen in 2025 according to NASA? ›

The majestic rings of planet Saturn, which span about 2.82 lakh kilometres in width, are set to disappear for a brief period in 2025, Nasa confirmed to CBS news. This event, expected to occur in March, is caused by the alignment of Saturn's rings with Earth's line of sight.

How much will it cost to go to space in 10 years? ›

As space tourism flights on Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic get scheduled, likely in 2022, look out for more competitions. In an article on the MoneyTransfers.com website an expert predicts that sub-orbital space travel—like that of Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic—could cost around $100,000 within a decade.

Why are the astronauts trapped in space? ›

An extended stay

But even before the launch and during the journey to the ISS, Starliner was plagued by leaks of the helium gas used to push fuel into its thrusters—and so the two astronauts have now spent more than two months on the space station while NASA and Boeing tried to work through the problems.

Why are boeing astronauts stuck in space? ›

Two NASA astronauts who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in June aboard Boeing's faulty Starliner capsule will need to return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA officials said on Saturday, deeming issues with Starliner's propulsion system too risky to carry its first crew home as planned.

What happens if you stay in space for 5 years? ›

Bones and muscles weaken

If you stay for a long time in space, your muscles and bones will weaken, primarily in the legs and lower back. Gravity always acts on you while you're on the earth, so even if you're not really conscious of resisting gravity, you're always using the muscles of your lower body.

Why can't the ISS stay in space forever? ›

The technical lifetime of the station is limited by the primary structure, which includes the modules, radiators, and truss structures. The lifetime of the primary structure is affected by dynamic loading (such as spacecraft dockings/undockings) and orbital thermal cycling.

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