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Astronauts Prepare for Extended Stay on International Space Station #

Two astronauts who were initially scheduled for a weeklong journey on the International Space Station (ISS) are now facing a monthslong stay. Their original spacecraft was deemed too risky for crew return, prompting a change in plans.

A new spacecraft is approaching the ISS, expected to dock soon. This vehicle carries two new crew members and has two empty seats reserved for the astronauts already on board.

The launch of the new spacecraft occurred without issues, but the rocket’s second stage experienced an anomaly during its disposal. As a result, the company has paused flights using this rocket type until they better understand the cause.

The new spacecraft has been traveling through orbit for about a day as it prepares to dock with the ISS. Once attached, the new crew members will join the others already on board the orbiting laboratory.

The extended-stay astronauts will now complete a different mission team. The group will spend about five months on board the space station before returning home no earlier than February.

The change in plans occurred after issues with helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters were discovered on the original spacecraft. Engineers scrambled to understand the problems, leading to the decision not to use that vehicle for the return journey.

To accommodate this change, two other astronauts were removed from the upcoming mission to make room for the extended-stay team. This means the current astronauts will need to fulfill the duties originally planned for others, including months of routine work on the space station.

Both extended-stay astronauts, who are veterans of earlier missions, have expressed ease in adjusting to the idea of staying in space until next year. One noted that the microgravity environment is their “happy place.”

Currently, there are three other crew members on board the ISS who arrived in September. Two of these crew members are part of a seat-swapping agreement between international space agencies.