NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), might remain in space until February 2025. This extension is due to ongoing issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which was initially intended to return them to Earth.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has been at the International Space Station (ISS) for two months on a mission initially planned for a week. The mission's extension is due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule, not problems with the ISS itself, according to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath.

Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS on June 6 aboard the Boeing Starliner for what was initially planned as a 10-day mission. However, their return has been delayed due to technical issues with the spacecraft. Engineers discovered helium leaks and other problems in several thrusters, necessitating an extension of their stay on the ISS.

While the astronauts remain safe, the prolonged stay highlights the persistent issues that have plagued Starliner from its inception. In addition to the previously known helium leak, four more leaks were discovered in Calypso’s propulsion system during the flight to the ISS.

NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams are currently stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with no definite return date due to persistent issues plaguing Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

Williams, 58, flew to space for the third time on Wednesday along with Wilmore, scripting history as the first members aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the ISS. Williams is the pilot for the flight test while Wilmore, 61, is the commander of the mission.

Although the spacecraft is usually autonomous, the crew used the hand controller to point and aim the spacecraft during about two hours of free-flight demonstrations.