Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore could be stuck in space until Feb 2025. Here's why NASA is in a conundrum

During a recent press conference, it was revealed that NASA is grappling with an unforeseen situation, which has led astronauts Sunita Williams and BarryWilmore to get stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) as they wait for their return to Earth. What was supposed to be a short mission of two months has now been extended till at least February 2025.

NASA astronauts Williams and Wilmore took off aboard Boeing's Starliner on June 5 and reached their destination, the ISS, on June 6.

According to the schedule, they were supposed to return around mid-June. However, plans had to be adjusted after various issues, including the propulsion system, helium leaks, and thruster malfunction were detected in the Starliner’s capsule.

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Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, said “We’re reaching a point where that last week in August we really should be making a call, if not sooner.”

This comes as the Starliner’s crew and authorities are focused on the safe return of the two astronauts to Earth. They are said to be trying their best to bring Williams and Wilmore back on Starliner. However, the option of using the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for the return mission is also being considered, just to be on the safe side.

Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, said astronauts prepare for every possibility before their human spaceflight.

He said, “Butch [Barry Wilmore] and Suni [Sunita Williams] said ahead of their launch that they know this mission might not be perfect. Human spaceflights are inherently risky, and as astronauts, we accept that.”

Montalbano said that if both astronauts did not return on Starliner, they would have to spend almost eight months in orbit. “They will have about eight months in orbit. If the two astronauts come on the SpaceX craft, they will return to Earth by February 2025,” he added.

Recently, NASA has conveyed that Starliner would not be used for the astronauts’ return.

However, SpaceX can be the possible choice for NASA’s Crew-9 mission to the ISS, which is scheduled for September 24. This will enable the two astronauts to return home by 2025.

In caseof an emergency, there is a possibility that the two astronauts could be unsuited, said Montalbano.

When asked if the Starliner would be uncrewed or if any special equipment had been allotted for them, NASA said, “From a suits standpoint, they are not interchangeable. You can’t have a Boeing suit in SpaceX or a SpaceX suit in a Boeing vehicle, so that would not be the plan. If the Starliner undocks and only the Dragon is available, they might have to return unsuited on the Dragon.”

The extra SpaceX flight suits will be sent through the Crew-9 team, Montalbano said.

(With inputs from agencies)