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Two Stranded Astronauts on ISS to Return to Earth with SpaceX in February 2025
NASA announced that two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunction in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX shuttle. The astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, were initially scheduled to return after an eight-day mission but have now spent eight months in orbit.
The decision to delay their return follows ongoing issues with the Starliner’s thruster system, raising concerns about the spacecraft’s ability to safely re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. NASA opted for the unconventional solution of bringing the astronauts back on SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which is scheduled to launch in late September 2024. The Crew-9 vehicle will remain docked at the ISS until February, when it will bring Williams, Wilmore, and the Crew-9 team back to Earth.
This situation has dealt another setback to Boeing, which has faced a series of delays and technical challenges with the Starliner. Originally developed as part of NASA’s efforts to secure multiple spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, the Starliner has lagged behind SpaceX’s Dragon, which has been in regular operation for the past four years.
Despite the delays, NASA assures that the ISS is well-stocked with supplies, and the astronauts are trained for extended missions, allowing them to continue their scientific work while they await their return.
