NASA has officially announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This decision comes after persistent issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, including propulsion system problems and helium leaks, which were deemed too risky for a crewed return.NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the priority of crew safety, stating, ‘The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety’. The astronauts, who were initially scheduled for a one-week test flight, have now been on the ISS for over 80 days and will remain there for approximately eight months.The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, originally planned to transport four people, will now carry only two astronauts when it launches in late September 2024 from the Kennedy Space Center. Wilmore and Williams will join this crew for their return journey in February 2025. Meanwhile, the Starliner is expected to make an uncrewed, autonomous return to Earth in September 2024, allowing NASA and Boeing to collect crucial test data for future improvements.This development marks a significant setback for Boeing, which has faced years of delays and budget overruns in its Starliner program, with losses exceeding $1.6 billion since 2016. Despite this setback, NASA officials, including Nelson, have expressed hope that Starliner’s problems can be corrected for another crewed flight in the future.The situation underscores the challenges and risks associated with space exploration and the importance of prioritizing safety in human spaceflight. As NASA continues to work with both Boeing and SpaceX, the agency remains committed to maintaining a diverse fleet of spacecraft for accessing the ISS and future deep space missions.
Key points
- NASA decides to return stranded astronauts on SpaceX Crew Dragon in February 2025 due to safety concerns with Boeing’s Starliner.
- Boeing’s Starliner will return to Earth uncrewed in September 2024 for further testing and improvements.
- This decision marks a significant setback for Boeing’s space program and highlights SpaceX’s growing role in NASA’s operations.
- NASA emphasizes crew safety as the primary factor in the decision-making process.
