Two Nasa astronauts who expected to spend just eight days in space have received more disappointing news, as their return to Earth has been delayed until spring.
Butch Wilmore, 61, and Suni Williams, 58, departed for the International Space Station in June, but their mission has faced repeated extensions.
The latest setback comes as their relief crew's launch has been pushed back, with SpaceX requiring additional time to prepare a new capsule for liftoff.
The replacement crew was originally scheduled to launch in February, which would have allowed Wilmore and Williams to return by the month's end alongside two other astronauts.
Butch Wilmore, 61, and Suni Williams, 58, departed for the International Space Station in June
GETTYHowever, Nasa has now announced the launch will occur no earlier than late March.
The space agency considered using a different SpaceX capsule to maintain the original schedule but ultimately decided to wait for the new vessel.
The extended mission means the astronauts will have spent nearly ten months in space by the time they return to Earth.
The delay stems from issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which initially transported the astronauts to the ISS but developed serious technical problems.
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Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita Suni Williams
GettyThe spacecraft, which cost over £4billion to develop, experienced helium leaks and thruster failures during its mission.
By the time the Starliner reached the space station, five of its 28 thrusters had failed, leading Nasa to deem it unsafe for the return journey.
The situation has proven particularly embarrassing for Boeing, which has struggled with its Starliner programme while rival SpaceX continues routine operations.
"We have had so many embarrassments lately, we're under a microscope. This just made it, like, 100 times worse," a Boeing employee told The New York Post anonymously.
The same employee expressed frustration about requiring assistance from their competitor: "We hate SpaceX. We talk s**t about them all the time, and now they're bailing us out."
Both companies participate in Nasa's Commercial Crew Programme, though Boeing's efforts have been marked by setbacks while SpaceX has established regular service.
They departed for the International Space Station in June
GETTY
Starliner departed from Florida’s Cape Canaveral on June 5
GETTYThe extended mission has sparked concern among social media users, with many expressing alarm about the astronauts' prolonged stay in space.
"Stuck in space for 60 days with no known solution is inhumane and torture," wrote one commenter, who called for a Change.org petition to bring the astronauts back.
Another worried user described the situation as "nightmarish", adding: "Hope they come back alive and tell us about it. Only happens in movies."
The involvement of SpaceX in the eventual rescue mission has drawn particular attention on social media platform X.
"Space X needs to go rescue them," wrote one user, while another commented: "Elon is going to have to get them isn't he..."
Some attempted to lighten the mood, with one commenter asking: "How much is Elon going to charge for the uber lift home?"
While both astronauts are experienced with extended missions, typical space station stays last six months, with few reaching a full year.
Nasa maintains that overlapping crews at the space station are preferred for smoother transitions.
