Boeing capsule has returned to Earth without stranded astronauts

The Boeing capsule has begun its descent back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), leaving two astronauts stranded.

The capsule had previously ferried the two astronauts up to the ISS for a routine stay on the station.

Technical issues with the capsule meant that it would not be safe for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to use it to make their scheduled return.

Now the pair will have to wait until February 2025 for the arrival of a SpaceX Dragon capsule to ferry them back to Earth.

While the Boeing Starliner capsule was not deemed safe to transport humans, it will be able to depart back to Earth without any passengers on board.

One of NASA's policies includes having a duplicate of space-going vehicles on earth.

This makes sure that the agency has a vehicle that it can study in the event that something goes wrong with a craft in flight.

The craft has now set off from the ISS and will make a journey of around six hours.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are spending longer on the ISS than expected (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

It is expected that the Starliner capsule will touch down in the desert in New Mexico.

Astronaut Suni Williams wished the spacecraft good luck as it set off home, saying: "Bring her back to Earth. Good luck."

The two astronauts had a hair-raising arrival on the space station when thrusters on the craft failed and helium leaked from tanks on board.

This meant that what was supposed to be an eight day mission to the space station instead turned into one lasting eight months.

Fortunately, there is more than enough to keep the astronauts safe during their stay there.

Not only that, but Williams' mom even said the astronaut was thrilled to be able to spend more time in orbit.

Williams was reportedly thrilled to have the chance to spend more time in space (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to Newsnation's CUOMO, Bonnie Pandya said: "Everything's going to be fine. I don't give her any advice. She knows what to do. She is a seasoned astronaut. She's been up over 400 days in space. So, you know, they have things to do. They have jobs to do. They have experiments."

Bonnie added: "She told me not to worry about her. Everything's going to be fine.

"I've been an astronaut mom for 20 years. And this is her third flight. Even though it was, you know, it has a problem, we still don't feel that there's a big problem."

SpaceX is now set to launch a crew ferry flight carrying two further astronauts to the ISS.

They will then work for two months on the space station before returning to Earth, taking Williams and Wilmore with them.

• Three astronauts stranded in space after capsule was struck by 'mystery object'
• 'Stranded' NASA astronauts finally reveal terrifying truth behind what really happened to ship in space
• Artemis II astronauts share powerful realization they had when returning to Earth
• NASA announces timeline of astronauts' evacuation from International Space Station due to 'serious medical issue'