Fri Sep 13 10:48:08 UTC 2024: ## Starliner Astronauts’ Mission Extended to Eight Months, Will Speak from Orbit Today

**HOUSTON** – Boeing’s first astronaut crew aboard the Starliner spacecraft, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will address reporters today from the International Space Station. Their mission, originally planned for a 10-day test flight, has been extended to at least eight months due to technical issues with the spacecraft.

The astronauts arrived at the ISS on June 6th after an eventful docking that saw five of the Starliner’s reaction control system thrusters malfunction. After months of troubleshooting, NASA deemed the risk of returning Wilmore and Williams on the Starliner too high. The capsule successfully returned to Earth autonomously on Sept. 6th.

The astronauts will discuss their experiences and ongoing work on the ISS during the livestream event at 2:15 p.m. EDT (1815 GMT). They will be returning home with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in February 2025 and will integrate into the ISS Expeditions 71 and 72 crews until then.

This change in mission length has shifted the astronauts’ roles significantly, transitioning them from test crewmembers to long-duration crew members. While the unexpected extension has presented challenges, the astronauts are well-equipped for the extended stay, with NASA having pre-positioned additional supplies on the ISS in anticipation of such a scenario.

This extended mission evokes parallels with other situations where space crews faced unexpected changes. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and two Russian cosmonauts spent 12 months in space instead of the planned six due to a coolant leak in their Soyuz spacecraft last December. The Apollo 13 mission was also dramatically affected by a burst oxygen tank in 1970, forcing the crew to abandon their moon landing.

The situation highlights the inherent unpredictability of space travel and the importance of adaptability for astronauts. While formal ceremonies like the change-of-command ceremony on the ISS are usually held to mark transitions, the astronauts are currently in a liminal period, navigating a new identity as part of the expedition crew while also having served on the Starliner mission. This unique experience may contribute to their place in history, much like Sergei Krikalev, who became the “last Soviet citizen” after the fall of the USSR.

The livestream event will be available to watch on Space.com and NASA+.

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