NASA leaders announced Saturday that astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams will remain aboard the International Space Station for an extended eight-month stay. This decision was made after a flight readiness review determined it was unsafe for them to return to Earth on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The Starliner will return empty to Earth to free up a docking port for SpaceX Crew-9, which is scheduled to arrive at the space station in September. The Dragon capsule from Crew-9 will now serve as Wilmore and Williams’ ride home.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that safety is a top priority, and this decision was made to ensure the well-being of the astronauts. Despite the challenges faced with the Starliner mission, NASA sees this as an opportunity to learn and improve for future missions. Williams and Wilmore, who were supposed to return after a week, will now stay until February.
The troubles with the Starliner began even before its launch, with helium leaks and propulsion system issues affecting the return trip. The delay in launching SpaceX Crew-9 was necessary due to the docking port occupied by the Starliner. Crew-9 will now have only two members instead of four to accommodate the situation. The Starliner crew is set to return on Feb. 25 with Crew-9. NASA and Boeing are working together to ensure the safe return of the astronauts and to gather valuable data for future missions.
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