Inside the daring rescue mission to save two NASA astronauts stranded in space for almost a year
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Two NASA astronauts trapped on the International Space Station (ISS) since June have been dealt another blow as their rescue mission is delayed once again. Veteran astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore arrived at the ISS aboard Boeing's doomed Starliner capsule with plans to stay for just eight days.
![[Williams and Wilmore launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in June aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The plan was the perform a test flight, dock with the ISS, and then return home after eight days]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93271779-14205209-image-a-22_1734523581915.jpg)
An initial delay saw the pair told they would head home alongside two other astronauts in February. However, they have now learned they will be stuck in space until March at the very earliest - 10 months after they first left home. With the Starliner capsule having returned to Earth empty in September, the pair have no choice but to wait for more help to arrive from SpaceX.
![[Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was plagued by technical issues even before in launched. By the time it arrived at the ISS it had sprung more helium leaks and five of its 28 thrusters had failed]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/88895165-14205209-Boeing_s_Starliner_spacecraft_was_plagued_by_technical_issues_ev-a-39_1734525202220.jpg)
The latest delay will give SpaceX extra time to prepare its brand-new capsule for lift-off. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, says: 'Fabrication, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is a painstaking endeavor that requires great attention to detail.'.
![[Starliner (pictured) was sent back to Earth empty in September after NASA decided it wasn't safe enough to be piloted]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93271761-14205209-image-a-23_1734523584740.jpg)
Here's how the daring rescue mission will work. Astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore (right) were only meant to spend a week in space, but have now been told their excruciating wait will last at least another month. Mission commander Williams and flight engineer Wilmore took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5 for a test flight of Boeing's new Starliner capsule.
![[Six months later, Williams and Wilmore are now working as part of the ISS crew while they await rescue. A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft arrived in September with two spare seats for the pair to return in but they cannot leave until a relief crew arrive in late March]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93271739-14205209-image-a-24_1734523600663.jpg)
