Two Astronauts Stranded on ISS Will Return to Earth in February 2025 with SpaceX
NASA Shifts to SpaceX for Astronauts' Return After Boeing's Starliner Thruster Issues Cause Extended Stay on ISS
NASA has announced that two U.S. astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, currently stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX shuttle.
The astronauts were initially set to return via Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but propulsion issues have caused significant delays.
NASA Opts for SpaceX After Starliner Setback
Originally planned to spend just eight days in orbit, Williams and Wilmore will now remain on the ISS for a total of eight months due to the Starliner’s thruster malfunctions. This unexpected delay is yet another challenge for Boeing, which has faced numerous setbacks in the development of the Starliner.
NASA had originally scheduled the astronauts’ return for this year, but safety concerns about the Starliner’s ability to safely deorbit led to the indefinite postponement of their journey back to Earth. Engineers at both Boeing and NASA feared the spacecraft might not have the necessary power to leave orbit and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
SpaceX Crew-9 Mission to Bring Astronauts Home
In an unusual move, NASA decided to bring the stranded astronauts back on a SpaceX Crew-9 mission instead of waiting for Starliner’s issues to be resolved. The SpaceX mission, set to launch in late September, will now carry only two passengers instead of four and will remain docked at the ISS until February 2025.
This decision highlights the ongoing challenges Boeing faces with its Starliner program, especially in light of SpaceX’s continued success in transporting astronauts to and from the ISS. NASA has reassured the public that the astronauts on the ISS are well-equipped for the extended mission, with ample supplies and numerous experiments to conduct during their prolonged stay in space.
This development underscores the importance of having multiple reliable spacecraft options for ISS missions, ensuring that astronauts can safely return to Earth even when technical issues arise.
