It turns out that this unexpected extension could have significant effects on their health as they continue to orbit Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA and Boeing spent weeks investigating the cause of helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, which they observed as the Starliner approached the station.

But that promise of a fix is nowhere to be found. Now, Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, has stepped up to finish a job Boeing started.

“Space flight is risky, even at its safest and even at its most routine. And a test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at a press briefing on Saturday.

While the Earth’s atmosphere protects us from these dangers, the ISS provides far less protection, making extended missions particularly hazardous for astronauts like Williams and Wilmore.

NASA monitors this closely, but the risk of developing conditions like cancer increases with every day they spend outside the protection of Earth’s atmosphere.

Williams and Wilmore will need to exercise at least two hours daily to combat this, but even then, they could face long-term consequences like weakened bones and decreased muscle strength upon their return to Earth.

This condition can cause the eyeballs to flatten, resulting in blurred vision. For Williams and Wilmore, these changes could begin to manifest after just two weeks in space.

Upon returning to Earth, astronauts often face challenges as their hearts struggle to adjust to gravity again. This could be a major concern for Williams and Wilmore after their extended stay.

Astronauts like Williams and Wilmore must adhere to a special diet to manage these effects, and they could lose up to 5% of their body weight during their time on the ISS.

Williams and Wilmore will need to rely on their training and support systems to maintain their mental well-being during this extended mission.

Researchers are closely studying his health data, which could provide crucial information for Williams and Wilmore as they face a similarly extended mission.

Rehabilitation will be a key part of their post-mission recovery, helping them regain strength and adapt to life on Earth once again.

Understanding how the human body responds to extended periods in space will be critical for ensuring the safety and success of future missions, which may last even longer than the eight months these astronauts are expected to spend in orbit.

By relying on SpaceX for this crucial task, NASA underscores its confidence in the company’s technology and operational experience. This collaboration also reflects a broader trend in the aerospace industry, where public-private partnerships are becoming essential for advancing space exploration.

A dozen offices at NASA made this decision, which will set the company back on its plans to have two reliable crew vehicles that can routinely carry astronauts into space.

The empty capsule with sail through Earth’s atmosphere for a planned touchdown in the Utah desert.

“The hit would have been worse if they had made a decision that put astronauts’ lives in danger,” Whitman Cobb says. “I think this is probably the least risky option for NASA at this point.”

“We continue to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft. We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return,” the statement read.

During Saturday’s news conference, Nelson mentioned the loss of the shuttle crews and the impact these tragedies have had on NASA’s culture. Some experts have questioned whether the rise of commercial space missions might complicate safety standards since NASA operated both shuttles entirely.

Wilmore, Williams, and their two new crewmates will spend a standard six-month mission in orbit, conducting various scientific experiments before returning to Earth in early 2025.

Boeing, on the other hand, started from scratch with its Starliner vehicle, encountering numerous difficulties along the way. The company was finally ready for an uncrewed test flight in December 2019, but the spacecraft—now the same capsule in orbit—burned too much fuel shortly after launch, preventing it from reaching the International Space Station.

With the retirement of NASA’s shuttle fleet in 2011, a decade into the station’s continuous occupation, the agency found itself in the uncomfortable position of relying on Russia for transportation.

Whatever the outcome, their journey highlights the challenges and opportunities of long-term space exploration, providing insights that will shape the future of human spaceflight.