Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams, have been stranded in space since June due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft's propulsion system. The pair's return journey home has been delayed as five of Starliner's manoeuvring thrusters stalled, helium leaks were detected, and a faulty propellant valve was identified.
Due to safety concerns, it was decided that the spacecraft was too risky for the astronauts to return to Earth in. As a result, Wilmore and Williams will now board SpaceX Crew-9 for their return flight, scheduled for February 2025.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson confirmed the decision, stating that Starliner will return uncrewed while the astronauts will return with Crew-9. This decision was made after discussions with SpaceX to ensure readiness for the contingency plan.
However, the return of Wilmore and Williams with Crew-9 comes at a cost, as two astronauts, Nick Hague and Russian Aleksandr Gorbunov, have been cut from the crew set to launch in September. Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were the astronauts removed from the crew, with factors such as spaceflight experience likely influencing the decision.
Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent nearly a year in the International Space Station, expressed confidence in Wilmore and Williams, stating that they will be able to handle the situation. Kelly described Williams as a 'great spirit of a person' and noted her enthusiasm for the extended time in space.
The stranded astronauts' return with Crew-9 in February 2025 marks a significant development in the ongoing mission to bring them back safely from space.
