The astronauts just got an extended stay in space—again! Their homecoming is now postponed until spring, marking 10 months of orbiting the Earth aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule
The NASA-SpaceX mission successfully reached orbit after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission is notable as it marks the first human spaceflight to take off from Space Launch Complex-40. "The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is en route to the International Space Station (ISS), with the new crew expected to arrive at the orbiting lab on Sunday, September 29, for a five-month science mission," NASA announced on X.
The astronauts left for the orbiting laboratory on June 6 aboard the Boeing Starliner after lifting off on June 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in the US
They should have been back long ago, but are stuck at the International Space Station following thruster failures and helium leaks in the Boeing spacecraft
Williams and Wilmore spoke to reporters in their first press conference from space as engineers continue to resolve technical issues that have extended their stay beyond schedule.
CNN reported that Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, mentioned that the US space agency is contemplating extending Starliner's mission duration from 45 days to 90 days.
NASA has scheduled the launch to the International Space Station (ISS) from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre for around 10 pm Indian Standard Time today.