Technology

The best Wi-Fi extenders in 2024

Published

4 days ago

September 26, 2024

Struggling with dead spots in your home network can be frustrating — especially when you’re trying to stream your favorite show or finish up some work in a quiet corner of the house. That’s where the best Wi-Fi extenders come in. These handy gadgets help boost your Wi-Fi signal by extending the coverage of your wireless network, so regardless of whether you have a new wireless router or not, you can get online in every corner of your home and maybe even the backyard.

Whether you’re dealing with thick walls or a modem that can’t cover a larger home, a Wi-Fi extender will help eliminate those annoying dead zones by capturing your existing signal and pushing it further. They’re great for keeping your home network strong in every room, and if you’ve ever considered upgrading your entire system to mesh Wi-Fi, these extenders offer a simpler, more budget-friendly option. So, if your wireless connection keeps dropping in those hard-to-reach spots, it might be time to look into the best Wi-Fi range extenders to keep your devices connected.

How do Wi-Fi extenders work?

These handy wireless devices do exactly what their name suggests: extend your Wi-Fi network so it covers more areas of your home. Most Wi-Fi extenders plug into an AC outlet and connect to your existing network so they can then rebroadcast it to spots that your router alone may not cover well. As a rule of thumb, you’ll get the best results by placing the extender half way between your router and the dead zone you’re trying to fix.

One important thing to note about Wi-Fi range extenders (also sometimes called “repeaters”) is that most of them actually create a new Wi-Fi network when rebroadcasting your existing one. That network will have a new name (it’ll often be your default network’s name with an EXT appended at the end, unless you change it) and that means you’ll have to connect to different networks when in different parts of your home. While that’s a small tradeoff in return for improved coverage, some will be more inconvenienced than others.

If you’d rather have one, much larger network in your home, you’re better off upgrading to mesh Wi-Fi. Mesh systems come with a main router and access points that, by default, create one large Wi-Fi system that should be accessible throughout your whole home. They tend to be the best Wi-Fi routers you can get, but that also translates to more expensive, and possibly more complicated, devices. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are, by far, more costly than a simple extender, plus you may have to work with your ISP to get your home’s existing network working on your new router.

What to look for in a Wi-Fi extender

Speed

Extenders today can support single, dual or tri-band Wi-Fi, and they will tell you the maximum speeds they support on all of their available bands. For example, one dual-band device might support 600Mbps speeds over its 2.4GHz band and up to 1300Mbps over its 5GHz band, for a combined maximum speed of 1900Mbps. For the best performance, you’ll want to go with a Wi-Fi extender that has the highest speeds possible (and those, as you might expect, tend to cost more). Some extenders even support Wi-Fi 6e, giving you the latest in wireless technology for faster speeds and lower latency.

However, it’s important to remember that Wi-Fi extenders are not true “signal boosters” since they are not designed to increase speeds across your home. In fact, you may find that the extender’s network is slower than your router’s. Instead, extenders are designed to increase the Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, making them ideal for filling in dead zones.

Range, and number of supported devices

With the name of the gaming being coverage area, taking note of a device’s range is important. Depending on the size of your home and property, you may only need up to 1,200 square feet of coverage. But those with larger homes will want to spring for an extender that can support upwards of 2,000+ square feet of coverage.

Similarly, those with lots of gadgets will want an extender that can handle them all at once. If you spend most of your time on your phone or laptop and maybe have your smart TV online for a few hours of Netflix each day, you could get by with a more limited extender. Smart home aficionados and tech lovers should invest in one that won’t buckle under the pressure of a few dozen connected devices. This is especially important if you plan on linking all of the devices in a certain part of your home to your Wi-Fi range extender’s network, rather than directly to your Wi-Fi router.

Design

There isn’t a ton of innovation when it comes to design in the Wi-Fi extender space. Most of the ones you’ll find today are rounded rectangles roughly the size of your hand that plug into a standard wall outlet. They usually have a few indicator lights that will show you when the extender is connected, how strong its signal strength is and when there’s a problem, and some will even have moveable antennas that companies claim provide even better Wi-Fi signal. Generally, they are pretty simple to install and get connected, but if you’re struggling with how to set up your Wi-Fi extender, there are plenty of YouTube videos you can check out.

Aside from that, there are the scant few standalone Wi-Fi extenders that sit on an end table or a desk, and those look pretty similar to regular ol’ routers. But make no mistake, anything labeled as an extender or a “repeater” will need an anchor router in order for it to work.

Another convenient feature you’ll find on most Wi-Fi extenders is an extra Ethernet port (or a few). This allows you to use the extender as a Wi-Fi access point if you connect it to your wireless router, or an adapter to provide devices like TVs, smart home hubs or game consoles a hardwired connection to the internet. Unsurprisingly, this wired connection usually provides you with the fastest speeds possible, so you may want to use it for your most crucial devices.

Best Wi-Fi extender for 2024

TP-Link

Maximum transfer rate: 2402 Mbps | Range: 110 feet

TP-Link has a bunch of Wi-Fi extenders under its umbrella, but the one that will likely serve most people the best is this AX3000 model, which comes in two variations: the RE700X and the RE705X. Both extenders have the same specs, including Wi-Fi 6 support, but the 705X has a slightly different design with pull-out antennas on either side. I tested the 705X, so I’m basing my recommendation off of my experience with that model, specifically.

Setting up this extender was as easy as plugging it in and following instructions in TP-Link’s Tether mobile app. All of the devices I tried followed the same basic setup process: first, plug in the extender close to your wireless router, follow instructions in a mobile app or on a setup webpage, and once the connection is established, move the extender to your desired location.

It took all of five minutes to pair the 705X with my Verizon FiOS router – probably the most time-consuming bit was deciding what I wanted to name the new 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz networks. I went with the same name for both because I didn’t want to manually choose from two different bands when connecting things like my phone or laptop. The device will automatically pair your device with the appropriate band — for example, connecting most smart home gadgets to the 2.4Ghz network, which often helps reduce latency.

The permanent location where I moved all of the extenders I tested was in my basement, since that’s where we can get the spottiest Wi-Fi signal. I first ran speed tests on my iPhone and MacBook using Speedtest.net and Speedcheck.org so I could compare them with the standard speeds I got when connected to my router’s main network. Unsurprisingly, the speeds generated by TP-Link’s extender were much slower than those from my router’s network, but that was the case with all of the devices I tested. Only our top pick (see below) got close to my router’s standard speeds, but I expected this. Wi-Fi extenders aren’t going to make your connection better – they’re just going to give you a wider area of coverage. From a spec perspective, both the 705X and the 700X are rated for speeds up to 2402 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 574 Mbps on 2.4GHz band.

Despite the results of my tests, I was happy to discover that I wasn’t held back by the 705X’s seemingly slower speeds. I worked as normal for hours with my phone and laptop connected to the extenders wireless network, answering emails, messaging in Slack, streaming YouTube videos and otherwise maintaining a few dozen tabs in Chrome, without any hiccups or noticeable slow-downs.

I was not surprised to find TP-Link’s Tether companion app to be easy to use, if a little simple, because that was my experience with TP-Link’s smart home app. Tether is specifically used with the company’s networking devices, and you probably won’t spend a ton of time in it after initial setup. I especially like that you can name wireless devices that are connected to your extenders network like your phone and smart TV. That makes it much easier to know which things in your home are constantly paired with the extender rather than your router’s default network.

One important thing to note with these TP-Link extenders is that they both support OneMesh, which is the company’s feature that allows you to create one seamless network if you have a compatible mesh router. Since I’m still using the router provided to me by my ISP, I wasn’t able to test out this feature, but it works like this: if you have a OneMesh router and OneMesh-compatible extenders, you can link them all together under the same network name. So rather than having a router network and an extender network under the same roof, everything would be linked and filed under your main network’s name.

It’s a small perk that becomes not so small if you have a spotty extender, or even just an awkwardly laid-out home. In my testing, I found my phone disconnecting from some extenders’ networks when I went upstairs to the main floor of the house from my basement. It would then attempt to reconnect to the extender network, when really I would have preferred it to default back to my router’s network. That thankfully didn’t happen with TP-Link’s RE705X, but it’s something to keep in mind when considering buying a Wi-Fi extender at all. If you can get one that has a feature like OneMesh, it’ll make your life much easier.

Coming in at $130 and $120, respectively, the RE705X and RE700X may not be the cheapest Wi-Fi extenders out there, but their coverage range, latest Wi-Fi support and max speeds make either of them a good pick. If you know exactly where you want to put an extender and it’s not in an awkward or hard-to-reach location, the slightly cheaper, antenna-free RE700X may work just fine for you. But if you want that extra ability to tweak antennas to suit your needs, the RE705X is the way to go.

Pros

Easy setup process
Good performance
Easy to use companion app
Integrates with TP-Link OneMesh

$130 at Best Buy

TP-Link

Maximum transfer rate: 867 Mbps | Range: 1500 sq.ft

TP-Link’s RE315 Wi-Fi extender is physically very similar to the RE705X, but with lower specs and that’s what makes it a $50 device. You’ll get up to 867 Mbps speeds on the 5GHz band and 300 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, and it only provides coverage for up to 1,500 square feet. That won’t be as much of an issue for most people as max speeds will, but if you have a particularly large property, you’re better off going with a more expensive extender that can cover more space.

There’s also no Wi-Fi 6e support on the RE315, which may be a dealbreaker for those who recently invested in a Wi-Fi 6 router. This model does support OneMesh, though, which is nice if you already have a OneMesh system in your home.

I’m focusing on specification differences because my experience with the RE315 wasn’t that far off from the RE705X. Setup was just as plain and simple since the RE315 also uses the Tether mobile app, and while speeds were slightly lower in my testing, I didn’t notice too much of a difference in real world use. For $50 normally, and often closer to $30 when on sale, the RE315 is an easy pick for anyone who wants a budget-friendly way to fill Wi-Fi dead zones in their home.

Pros

Affordable
Easy setup process
Good performance for the price
Easy to use companion app

Cons

Only provides 1,500 square feet of coverage
Does not support Wi-Fi 6

$23 at Amazon

NETGEAR

Maximum transfer rate: 4800 Mbps | Range: 2500 sq.ft

Having more than one Wi-Fi network in your house is par for the course when it comes to adding an extender into the mix. But that’s not so with the Netgear EAX80 mesh network range extender – it has “seamless smart roaming,” which allows you to set it up under your existing SSID name. So instead of disconnecting from your main wireless network and reconnecting to the extender’s network when you move from your living room to your basement, all you have to do is… move from one room to another and let Netgear’s device do the heavy lifting.

That’s one of the premium features included on the EAX80, but its $250 price tag can be attributed more so to some other perks. It’s a dual-band, Wi-Fi 6e mesh range extender that will work with pretty much any wireless router you may have. It supports speeds up to 6 Gbps and can have more than 30 devices connected to it at once. As far as square footage goes, it’ll widen your Wi-Fi’s coverage by up to 2,500 square feet, which should be plenty for small and medium-sized homes. It performed well in our speed tests, coming very close to the upload/download speeds I got when being connected to my main network before installing the extender.

There’s nothing out of the ordinary about the Nighthawk mobile app, which is what you’ll use to initially set up the EAX80 extender. After that, you can use the app to troubleshoot, check Wi-Fi speeds and see which devices are on your network. It’ll likely be a big list since you’ll see everything that’s paired to your router’s network as well. My only gripe is that you can’t edit device names. For example, my den’s TV shows up as “LGwebOSTV” and our soundbar in our basement shows up as “sonyaudio” — but there are a number of connected devices with no name at all, and we’re just stuck with that.

Aside from its fast speeds and reliable connection, two things set this Netgear extender apart from the other devices I tested. First is that seamless smart roaming feature – not having to switch between Wi-Fi networks when going around my home was super convenient. I never had to worry about my laptop losing connection to a dedicated extender network when I moved from my basement to my second floor, which is something I frequently had to deal with when testing other devices.

The second differentiating factor is the EAX80’s design. Unlike other range extenders that are chunky blocks that plug directly into an AC outlet, Netgear’s model looks more like a standalone router. While that does mean it has a larger footprint than other devices I tested, it was actually easier to find good spots for it in my home because it didn’t have to be chained to the wall right above an outlet. Most people, especially those tight on space, will probably prefer the standard extender design, but the EAX80 gave me a bit more flexibility. I also appreciated that the EAX80 has four built-in ports for using an Ethernet cable to physically connect things like TVs, consoles and more, plus one USB-A port for hardwiring a printer.

Netgear’s EAX80 range extender is a solid option if you don’t mind dropping a bit of money to get a bunch of convenient features on top of stellar speeds and Wi-Fi 6 support. But it’s worth noting that Netgear has a few options that are similar to the EAX80, but with various differences in speed, coverage and feature set. The most similar is the $130 EAX20 extender, which includes 1,500 square feet of coverage, support for Wi-Fi 6 and up to 1.8Gbps speeds, plus seamless smart roaming capabilities. The wall-plug version of that, the EAX15, is actually a tad more expensive at $140.

Pros

“Seamless smart roaming” lets you use your existing SSID name
Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support
Widens coverage by 2,500 square feet
Excellent performance

$181 at Amazon

Wi-Fi extender FAQs

What’s the difference between a wifi booster and extender?

Nowadays, there’s really no difference between a Wi-Fi booster and Wi-Fi extender – they’re just different names for the same thing. Previously, however, Wi-Fi boosters were devices that received signals from wireless routers, broadcasting them to another network. This essentially extends the range of the signal. Wi-Fi extenders expand the coverage within your home’s Wi-Fi network, but often you will see extenders described as boosters.

Is a Wi-Fi extender better than a mesh router?

Mesh routers, or mesh Wi-Fi systems, use multiple devices (or nodes) across your home to create a larger home network. Essentially, you have multiple routers around your home with these systems, and that will hopefully provide the best coverage possible. Wi-Fi extenders, on the other hand, are usually just one device that extends your existing Wi-Fi signal, and they often require you to switch networks when connecting. Wi-Fi extenders are more affordable, though, and are great if you’re traveling or need a Wi-Fi signal in harder-to-reach areas. However, a mesh router can offer a better long-term solution to upgrade your entire home’s Wi-Fi.

Should I use multiple Wi-Fi extenders?

Some people may need to use multiple Wi-Fi extenders, for instance, if your home is large or has dead zones in different areas. But if you do use multiple Wi-Fi extenders, there’s a chance of interference. You may also need to manually connect to the extenders separately, which isn’t always convenient.

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Technology

Watch out-of-this-world footage from Polaris Dawn mission

Published

8 mins ago

September 30, 2024

NewsAdmin

Watch out-of-this-world footage from Polaris Dawn mission

SpaceX has shared some breathtaking footage captured from a Crew Dragon spacecraft during the recent Polaris Dawn mission.

The video (below) was recorded by an external camera from an altitude of about 450 miles (730 kilometers) during the spacecraft’s 75 orbits of Earth across the historic five-day mission.

“Looks like CGI, but these are all real video highlights from the Polaris Program space mission,” SpaceX chief Elon Musk said in a post on social media.

Views from Dragon in flight 🐉🌎
During its five day mission, Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew completed 75 orbits around Earth pic.twitter.com/NzIFElzXAm
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— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 27, 2024

The footage is dramatically different to that beamed back from the International Space Station (ISS) as the station’s orbit is much closer to Earth at around 250 miles. The Crew Dragon’s higher orbit therefore gives us a much wider perspective, with the Earth’s curvature much more prominent.

The same camera was used to record the first-ever commercial spacewalk, which was performed by Polaris Dawn crew member Jared Isaacman, the man who funded all-civilian mission. Following Isaacman, fellow crewmember Sarah Gillis became the first woman to perform a commercial spacewalk. The event also marked the first time for someone to emerge from the Crew Dragon spacecraft in the vacuum of space. The main goal of the spacewalk was to test a new spacesuit that offers greater mobility and comfort than the current design used for such endeavors. It’s expected that a version of the suit will be used for future missions to the moon and possibly beyond.

Traveling alongside Isaacman and Gillis were Scott Poteet and Anna Menon. While Isaacman had been to orbit before — as part of the privately funded Inspiration4 mission in 2021 — his three fellow crewmembers were on their first trip to space.

During the flight, the four non-professional astronauts traveled further from Earth — 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) — than anyone has traveled since the Apollo missions five decades ago. The crew also tested out a laser-based communications system, and carried out science experiments that included health and human performance research for NASA’s Human Research Program.

The Crew Dragon and its occupants returned safely to Earth on September 15, with the journey home captured in a stunning photo taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit aboard the ISS.

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Servers computers

🔴 What is server? | why do we need Tower Rack And Blade Servers?

Published

10 mins ago

September 30, 2024

NewsAdmin

🔴 What is server? | why do we need Tower Rack And Blade Servers?

in this video we will know about what is server and what type of server are there and all about of servers if you relay what to know server so you must watch this video thank you #whatisServer #server #towerServer #Rackserver #BladeServer .

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Technology

Pixel Buds web app now compatible with Windows & macOS

Published

31 mins ago

September 30, 2024

NewsAdmin

Pixel Buds web app now compatible with Windows & macOS

Google launched the Pixel Buds Pro 2 in August as its latest flagship TWS earbuds. The Pixel Buds series not only offers good audio quality but also a plethora of useful and convenient smart features. However, these features were not available to Mac or Windows device users. Now, Google is solving the problem by adding Windows and macOS support for the Pixel Buds web app.

The Pixel Buds web app is not exactly new, as Chromebook users have been able to use it for a while now. It allows them to enjoy most of the features of the Pixel Buds devices on their laptops too, while Windows and macOS users had to settle for just being able to pair their earbuds.

The Google Pixel Buds web app gets support for Windows and macOS devices

Now, Google has updated the “Update your Pixel Buds Firmware” support page. “The Pixel Buds web companion app is available on Chrome OS, MacOS and Windows,” reads the new version. The web app is the same on all supported platforms, so all features are available, including checking battery levels and accessing expanded controls.

Regarding expanded controls, there are numerous options available. This web app lets you do everything the smartphone app does. You’ll be able to enable/disable ANC, tweak the equalizer, or manage multipoint connectivity. You can also enable/disable the conversation detection feature, in-ear detection, and even tweak the volume balance. Of course, the web app will also let you update your earbuds’ firmware, even without a linked phone nearby.

In terms of features, the older-generation Pixel Buds will become smarter in the near future thanks to the integration with Gemini. However, there is still no exact date for the rollout of Gemini on previous Google earbuds. Also, Gemini Live integration will still be exclusive to the Pixel Buds Pro 2, at least for now.

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Servers computers

20KWh DIY RackMount Backup Battery for Half price

Published

42 mins ago

September 30, 2024

NewsAdmin

20KWh DIY RackMount Backup Battery for Half price

Fully DIY way – https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/3_6KWh_Scooter_Rack_mount_Battery_Kit_e42c8e40.html

Or PreAssembled DIY kit – https://jag35.com/products/3-6kwh-rack-mount-scooter-pack

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Technology

Harlequin (or LG 6.5), Rack and more

Published

53 mins ago

September 30, 2024

NewsAdmin

In What We’re Listening To, Engadget writers and editors discuss some of the recent music releases we’ve had on repeat. This installment has everything from jazz standards to The Jesus Lizard.

Lady Gaga – Harlequin

I wasn’t even a minute into Harlequin before I had the realization, Oh, I am going to become so annoying in my love for this. Unfortunately for everyone in my life (and doubly so because I’m singing along), I’ve had it blasting all weekend since the surprise drop on Friday. Gaga is a powerhouse, and as much as I adore her take on pop, I’m always blown away when I hear her do jazz. And Harlequin is brimming with it.

Harlequin is a companion album to a soon-to-be-released movie (Joker: Folie à Deux) and almost entirely comprises cover songs — a combination that might typically put me off. But Gaga’s breezy versions of classics like “World on a String” and “Smile” are almost chilling. Her energy in tracks like “Gonna Build a Mountain” is through the roof. I could have done without “Oh, When the Saints,” but I’m really just nit-picking now. There are only two original songs on the album and they are completely different beasts, each impactful in its own way. “Happy Mistake” is a clear standout, and I’ll be softly weeping to that one for years to come.

Babe Haven – Nuisance

On the exact opposite end of the spectrum, I’ve been really into punk band Babe Haven’s most recent album, Nuisance, lately. It’s 25-ish minutes of queer femme rage and I can’t get enough of it. Check it out on Bandcamp.

— Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend Editor

The Jesus Lizard – Rack

Even laudatory reviews of comeback albums lean on expectations tempered with preemptive apology or pity praise. A comparison to headier days of musical urgency is inevitable; it stings for the same reasons as hearing “you look great for your age.” I wish there were some way to take stock of Rack without that baggage, because The Jesus Lizard doesn’t merely sound better than a band which took three decades off has any right to, it simply does not sound as though time has passed at all.

Rack broods with baffling inconspicuousness amid their oeuvre. Sure, “What If?” doesn’t reach the slash and sprawl of earlier meanderings like “Rodeo in Joliet,” but “Lord Godiva” glides on the most Duane Denison of Duane Denison riffs, lightning and crude oil. The manic physicality of David Yow’s voice is unaltered — neither more harried after 60+ years of swinging at ghosts, nor attenuated by the effort.

So many bands seemingly frozen in amber reemerge denuded, as though covering themselves. They’d be frantically recapturing their glory days, if they had the energy to do anything frantic anymore. Rack, through sheer ferocity, is instead a band continuing to do exactly what it always has, just as well as it always has, and sounding really fucking cool doing it.

— Avery Ellis, Deputy Editor, Reports

Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet

There’s a part of me that hates keeping up with pop music, and that’s the part of me that cringes when I realize the last few albums I’ve listened to have been the ones by pop princesses Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and more. That’s also the part of me that resisted listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album for months (and probably the part of me that refused to watch the incredible Schitt’s Creek until this year).

I say all that only to explain why I’m so late to appreciate the goodness that is Short n’ Sweet. And the non-self-judgy part of me has unabashedly loved Carpenter’s new music and been asking all my friends if they’ve listened to her songs. When I talked to my various friend groups about her, what became clear is how there’s something for everyone, regardless of the variety in our tastes.

I’m a fan of R&B, hip hop and basically anything I can dance or sing to. The tracks “bet u wanna,” “Taste” and “Feather” have become highly repeated items on my playlist and yes, I did go back into her older discography for some of those titles. However, my current absolute favorite is “Espresso.” It’s got a catchy hook, clever lyrics and a groovy beat that delicately straddles the line between upbeat and lowkey. I love the wordplay and how, when woven with the rhythm and melody, it initially sounded to me like Carpenter was singing in a different language. And as someone who works in tech and is occasionally a gamer, I especially adored the use of the words “up down left right,” “switch” and Nintendo. Truly, rhyming “espresso” with “Nintendo” wasn’t something I would have expected to work, but work it did.

But back to the point I was making earlier: Even if that sort of chill dance club vibe isn’t your thing, there’s plenty in Short n’ Sweet that might appeal to you. I wasn’t as huge a fan of “Please please please,” for example, but I know friends who love it. And while “Bed Chem” and “Good Graces” aren’t hitting my feels the same way “Espresso” is, those two are among her highest played songs on Spotify. I’m also starting to warm up to “Juno.”

All that is to say, we all have different tastes. Maybe you’re more of a Chappell Roan fan. I like some of her latest tracks too, just not as much as I’ve enjoyed Carpenter’s. I also really enjoy the brilliance that is “Die With a Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, which is something I’ll be adding to my karaoke duet repertoire, but am already playing less frequently nowadays. If you have a preference for music from the likes of Ariana Grande, NewJeans and Doja Cat, you’ll probably have a good time with Sabrina Carpenter. And since I’m so late to the party, you probably have already.

— Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor, Reviews

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Science & Environment

SpaceX capsule docks at ISS to collect stranded astronauts

Published

1 hour ago

September 30, 2024

NewsAdmin

SpaceX capsule docks at ISS to collect stranded astronauts

A SpaceX capsule sent to bring back two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) has docked.

The Dragon capsule, which has two empty seats for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, docked at 17:30 eastern time (22:30 BST).

The pair arrived at the station on Boeing’s new Starliner capsule for an eight-day mission in June, but were forced to remain there because of a fault discovered during the flight.

They are now expected to return to Earth in February.

The Dragon capsule lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Saturday carrying Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov.

Hague, who has done a previous stint on the ISS, and Gorbunov will join the space station’s crew before taking Wilmore and Williams back to Earth.

The launch had been scheduled for Thursday but was delayed because of Hurricane Helene, which has caused huge destruction across the south-eastern US, including Florida, in recent days.

The docking occurred as the space station flew 265 miles (426km) above Botswana in southern Africa.

Footage from inside the ISS showed Hague and Gorbunov smiling and posing for photos with the rest of the crew after their arrival.

The original Starliner flight, which launched on 5 June, was that capsule’s first test flight with astronauts on board and Boeing’s first attempt to take astronauts to the ISS.

During the flight it experienced a number of problems, including leaks of helium – which is used in its propulsion system – and issues with several of its thrusters.

Engineers at Boeing and Nasa spent months investigating, but in late August Nasa decided that it would not be safe to try to bring Wilmore and Williams home aboard the Starliner.

The capsule had already been delayed for several years because of setbacks during its development, as well as issues discovered during uncrewed test flights in 2019 and 2022.

Nasa retired its space shuttle fleet in 2011, leaving the agency reliant on Russia’s Soyuz craft to get to and from the ISS.

Having two American companies to perform the missions has been a key goal for some time, and in 2014 Boeing and SpaceX were awarded contracts worth $4.2bn (£3.2bn) and $2.6bn (£2bn) respectively.

In 2020, SpaceX – founded by billionaire Elon Musk – became the first private company to take astronauts to the ISS.

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