Two NASA astronauts, Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, who embarked on what was supposed to be an 8-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024, are now scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025.
This extended stay is due to technical issues with their spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner, which experienced problems like helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, rendering it unsafe for crewed return.
Consequently, NASA has decided to use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring the astronauts back, marking a significant shift as SpaceX, a competitor to Boeing, will facilitate their return.
This decision highlights ongoing challenges with the Starliner program and represents a setback for Boeing, illustrating the complexities and risks involved in space travel and the reliance on multiple space agencies and private companies for astronaut safety and mission success.
