Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck in orbit for over two months after a fault in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, will return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon craft next year. The astronauts were initially on a one-week test flight aboard the Starliner, but issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters forced it to remain docked at the International Space Station for extensive testing.
While the Starliner will return home uncrewed, the astronauts will stay on the station to complete their six-month mission. This situation represents a major setback for both NASA and Boeing, as NASA has emphasized the need for multiple commercial options for space station travel, in addition to SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
Engineers have struggled to replicate and resolve the Starliner issues from the ground, prompting NASA to prioritize the astronauts’ safety by keeping them aboard the station. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the inherent risks of spaceflight, particularly during test flights, and reiterated the agency’s commitment to safety in their decision.
The two astronauts will join the Crew-9 mission, a SpaceX mission set to launch with two astronauts instead of the usual four next month. Wilmore and Williams will become part of this crew and travel home with them in the Dragon in February 2025.
However, before Crew-9 can launch, the Starliner needs to return to Earth for further testing and repairs, freeing up a docking port on the station for the Dragon. NASA has yet to announce a specific date for the Starliner’s departure, but it needs to occur within the next few weeks to accommodate Crew-9’s arrival.
Once the Starliner returns to Earth, NASA will conduct a thorough review to determine the necessary repairs before it can be used for crew transportation again. Despite the setback, the agency remains confident in the Starliner’s capabilities. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, highlighted the spacecraft’s potential and the valuable data gathered during the test flight, stating that the information will be crucial for future corrective actions and the uncrewed return.
