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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Science
Maya Yang

Nasa says astronauts stuck in orbit to return with SpaceX crew in February, not on Boeing Starliner

Woman and man in blue jumpsuits smiling with arms around each other.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore before liftoff en route to the International Space Station, on 5 June 2024 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photograph: Chris O’Meara/AP

Nasa has decided that the two astronauts currently stuck on the International Space Station will return next February on a SpaceX-crewed Dragon flight on which two seats have been made available for Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore.

Space agency officials said there was “too much uncertainty” for the astronauts to return on the craft that brought them to the space station, Boeing’s Starliner, which has had problems after the capsule sprang small leaks and some of its thrusters failed.

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