Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, embarked on an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Boeing Starliner for its first crewed test flight. However, issues with the Starliner’s thrusters have delayed their return, and they have now spent over two months in space. The latest plan is for them to return to Earth in February 2025 using a SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle.
Initially, NASA aimed to bring the astronauts back using the Starliner, but ongoing technical problems have led the agency to explore alternative options for a safe return.
During a recent briefing, Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, mentioned, “We’ve got multiple options. We could bring them back on another vehicle instead of the Starliner, which is something we need to consider.”
Having multiple available vehicles is crucial for NASA to address unexpected situations like this. Bowersox highlighted the importance of having different spacecraft for crew return missions, stating, “We want multiple vehicles to provide flexibility and ensure safety.”
The decision on whether to continue working on the Starliner or switch to the Dragon for the astronauts’ return is under discussion. Bowersox mentioned that both paths are possible, and NASA is leaning towards evaluating alternative options more seriously.
Despite the extended stay on the ISS, NASA assures that the astronauts are safe and not in danger. They continue to carry out tasks on the station while awaiting a decision on their return. If they use the Dragon for their journey back to Earth, NASA may need to adjust upcoming missions, such as the Crew-9 mission, to accommodate the change.
While NASA has engaged SpaceX in discussions about using the Dragon for the Starliner crew’s return, formal plans have yet to be announced.
