Two NASA astronauts stuck in space for more than two months will return to Earth in February 2025 on a SpaceX spacecraft.
NASA said the Boeing Starliner spacecraft carrying astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore – who are on the International Space Station (ISS) – will return to Earth “without crew”.
The pair took off on June 5 for a planned eight-day mission but will now remain in orbit for about eight months.
Starliner has encountered problems on its way to the ISS, including a helium leak that pushed fuel into the propulsion system. Some of the thrusters also failed to function properly.
Boeing and SpaceX have both been awarded multi-billion dollar contracts by NASA to provide commercial space flights for its astronauts. Boeing’s contract is worth $4.2bn (£3.18bn) while SpaceX has received $2.6bn.
While SpaceX has flown several manned missions to the ISS, this is the first test flight of Boeing’s Starliner with astronauts on board.
Since the spacecraft’s failure, engineers at Boeing and NASA have spent months trying to figure out these technical problems.
They’ve been conducting tests and collecting data, both in space and on Earth. Their hope is to identify the root of the problem and figure out how to get the astronauts home safely on the Starliner.
The decision was made to extend their stay on the ISS until February 2025 so they can return on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
This extra time allows SpaceX to launch its next spacecraft, which is scheduled to lift off in late September.
It was supposed to have four astronauts on board, but will instead travel to the space station with two, allowing Butch and Suni to join them on board for their planned return to Earth at the end of the mission in February next year.
