NASA announces that the return of the Boeing Starliner has been postponed by "weeks" for additional testing, but assures that astronauts are not stranded.

• NASA and Boeing are postponing the first Starliner crewed flight's return to Earth, but have not yet set a new target date.
• The Starliner team is undergoing additional ground testing before the spacecraft departs from the International Space Station, according to officials.
• NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are flying on Boeing's crew flight test, which marks the first time Starliner is carrying people.

NASA has not yet set a new target date for returning the Starliner capsule to Earth, despite further extending the first crewed flight.

NASA and Boeing will continue to use the "Calypso" Starliner capsule at the International Space Station for additional testing, following the successful crew flight test with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

The Starliner team is conducting a test campaign of the spacecraft's thruster technology at White Sands, New Mexico, prior to its return to Earth.

NASA's Commercial Crew manager Steve Stich stated during a press conference that the testing may take approximately two weeks and they are attempting to simulate the inflight environment on the ground as closely as possible.

As of Friday, the Starliner flight has been in space for 24 days and counting, exceeding the initial nine-day plan.

Officials emphasized that Starliner is safe to return at any point in case of an emergency, even though it has been staying at the ISS for an extended period. NASA and Boeing say the delay for testing is only to gather more data about the spacecraft's performance, specifically its thruster system.

Stich clarified that Butch and Suni were not stranded in space.

NASA is on the verge of certifying Boeing to fly crew on six-month missions, but the Starliner crew flight test is encountering issues similar to the previous two uncrewed spaceflights.

NASA has planned to have SpaceX and Boeing fly astronauts on alternating flights, with Starliner now serving as a backup position due to setbacks and delays.