NASA leaders announced that Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams will have to stay aboard the International Space Station for an extended eight-month mission, as it was deemed too risky for them to return to Earth on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. This decision was made to prioritize safety, with the Starliner returning empty to make way for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Williams and Wilmore will now return to Earth on the Dragon capsule, which was originally designated for Crew-9.
The decision came after a flight readiness review that assessed the capability of the Starliner to safely return the astronauts, as the spacecraft faced issues with helium leaks and its propulsion system after docking at the space station. This unexpected mid-mission review delayed the Crew-9 mission, which will now launch on September 24 with only two astronauts instead of four.
The engineering teams from NASA and Boeing are analyzing data to ensure the safe return of the Starliner crew in February next year. Wilmore and Williams originally arrived at the space station in June for a short visit but will now have a significantly longer stay due to the spacecraft issues. The decision to prioritize safety and commit to thorough reviews reflects NASA’s core value of prioritizing the well-being of astronauts.
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