NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore will have to wait longer to return to Earth as their scheduled departure from the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed due to a rocket-related glitch. According to an Associated Press report, a fresh crew of four astronauts from the US, Japan, and Russia must first arrive at the ISS before Williams and Willmore can begin their journey back home.
The delay comes as Boeing’s Starliner, the spacecraft carrying Williams and Willmore, undergoes additional technical evaluations. While NASA and Boeing officials have assured that the astronauts are safe aboard the ISS, no new return date has been confirmed yet. The extended stay highlights the challenges faced by commercial spaceflight missions as they work toward reliable and routine operations.
