NASA Plans to Bring Back Astronaut Sunita Williams in 2025 via SpaceX Capsule
NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over two months, will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule in February 2025. The decision comes after issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to return the astronauts after their eight-day mission that began on June 5.
The original plan involved the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, scheduled for late September, carrying four astronauts. However, it will now carry only two passengers. The SpaceX capsule will remain docked at the ISS until February, when it will return with its own crew along with the two stranded astronauts.
NASA Chief Bill Nelson explained, "NASA has decided that Butch and Suni will return with Crew-9 next February, and the Starliner will return uncrewed. The specifics of the schedule will be discussed further. Boeing has worked diligently with NASA to address the issues, and we want to understand the root causes and necessary design improvements to ensure the Starliner becomes a reliable option for ISS crew transport."
This decision follows a meeting where Nelson and a decision-making committee evaluated options for the astronauts' return. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has committed to resolving the issues with the Starliner once it returns safely.
What Went Wrong with the Boeing Starliner?
The Starliner spacecraft, which launched in early June carrying astronauts Wilmore and Williams, was initially scheduled to return them to Earth after their mission. However, NASA postponed their return indefinitely due to problems with the spacecraft's propulsion system.
Engineers at Boeing and NASA have been working intensively to diagnose the issue, which involves concerns about the spacecraft's ability to exit orbit and initiate its descent safely. If the Starliner is deemed unsafe for crewed return, it will return uncrewed, and the SpaceX capsule will bring Williams and Wilmore home.
This situation could further impact Boeing's reputation, which has already faced scrutiny due to recent issues with its aircraft division. NASA had initially tasked both Boeing and SpaceX with developing spacecraft to ensure crew transport options following the Space Shuttle's retirement. However, SpaceX has taken the lead, providing exclusive crew transport services for the past four years.
The current crewed Starliner flight was intended as a final test before regular operations. NASA has assured that the ISS crew has sufficient supplies, is trained for extended missions, and has ongoing experiments to keep them occupied until their return.
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