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NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is facing health problems aboard the International Space Station after being stranded for months due to ongoing issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Williams, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, has been stuck in orbit since June, when what was meant to be an eight-day test flight turned into an open-ended mission.
The Starliner capsule, which docked to the ISS on June 6, was supposed to complete Boeing’s first crewed flight test. But helium leaks and thruster failures forced NASA and Boeing to halt plans for a quick return. The unexpected extension has raised new concerns for astronaut health and safety, as long stays in microgravity environments can cause medical complications.
Williams is reportedly showing symptoms linked to Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), a condition that alters fluid distribution in the body and affects eyesight. NASA doctors aboard the station are carrying out tests and scans to assess the extent of the problem. Other health risks, including bone loss, also increase the longer astronauts remain in space.
The mission delay has created an urgent question: how to bring the astronauts home safely. NASA is now weighing a backup plan that would involve returning Williams and Wilmore aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which is scheduled to launch to the ISS at the end of September. That capsule is due to return to Earth in February 2025, turning what was originally an eight-day flight into an eight-month stay.
The plan faces complications. Starliner is currently occupying the docking port needed for the Crew Dragon capsule, meaning Boeing must reconfigure the spacecraft for an uncrewed return. In addition, the spacesuits designed for Starliner are not compatible with SpaceX’s capsule. NASA is considering sending proper suits on the upcoming Crew Dragon flight to reduce risks during reentry.
The drawn-out mission has already cost millions of dollars and intensified criticism of Boeing’s troubled Starliner program, which has faced repeated delays and technical failures. For Williams and Wilmore, the wait continues as NASA and Boeing engineers search for a solution that will get them safely back to Earth.
