NASA says astronauts stuck in orbit to return February, not on Boeing Starliner

NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), will return to Earth in February 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight, rather than on Boeing's Starliner. This decision follows concerns about the Starliner's reliability, as it has experienced technical issues, including thruster failures and leaks. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the commitment to safety, stating that the Starliner will return uncrewed. Williams and Wilmore have been on the ISS since June 6, 2024, initially for an eight-day mission that extended due to the Starliner's complications. They will continue to conduct scientific research and maintenance tasks during their extended stay. NASA and Boeing are working to address the Starliner's issues, with a focus on understanding the root causes of the failures. The Crew-9 mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than September 24, 2024, with preparations underway to accommodate the returning astronauts.

- NASA astronauts will return to Earth in February 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight.

- The decision to not use Boeing's Starliner was made due to safety concerns over technical issues.

- Williams and Wilmore have been on the ISS since June 2024, initially for a short mission.

- NASA is committed to ensuring safety and addressing the Starliner's technical problems.

- The Crew-9 mission is set to launch no earlier than September 24, 2024.