New York, 18 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Two astronauts from the US space agency NASA currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have had their stay extended again, NASA said on Tuesday.

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have been stranded on the ISS since June due to technical issues with their Starliner spacecraft.

The pair had only planned to stay on the ISS for about a week.

NASA then expected their return in February 2025, however the agency said there had been a delay in launching their replacements.

"NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 now is targeting no earlier than late March 2025 to launch four crew members to the International Space Station," the US space agency said in a statement.

"The change gives NASA and SpaceX teams time to complete processing on a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission."

The Crew-9 mission, including Williams and Wilmore, would return following the arrival of Crew-10.

"Known as a handover period, it allows Crew-9 to share any lessons learned with the newly arrived crew and support a better transition for ongoing science and maintenance at the complex," NASA said.

The ISS had recently received two resupply flights in November and was well-stocked with everything the crew needed, including food, water, clothing, and oxygen, NASA said.

The resupply spacecraft also carried special items for the crew to celebrate the holidays aboard the ISS, it added.

MIA file photo