NASA has announced that it will use SpaceX’s Dragon capsule to bring home two astronauts who have been stranded in space for months, in a significant setback for aerospace manufacturer Boeing.
The decision comes as NASA expresses a lack of confidence in Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which will return to Earth unmanned.
The two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since early June, are now scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasised that the decision was driven by a “commitment to safety.”
“Our core value is safety, and it is our North Star,” Nelson stated in a press conference on Saturday.
“NASA has decided that Butch and Sunny will return with Crew-9 next February, and that Starliner will return uncrewed.”
The Starliner, Boeing’s flagship development meant to compete with SpaceX for NASA contracts, has faced a series of mechanical issues since its first crewed mission to the ISS in June.
Initially intended as an eight-day mission, the Starliner’s problems led to it remaining docked at the ISS far longer than planned.
Despite the challenges, Nelson praised Boeing for its efforts to work through the issues.
“I want you to know that Boeing has worked very hard with NASA to get the necessary data to make this decision.
“We want to further understand the root causes and design improvements so that the Boeing Starliner will serve as an important part of our assured crew access to the ISS.”
Nelson also shared that he had spoken with Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who assured that the company would continue to address the Starliner’s problems once it returns to Earth.
The decision to select SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, which has been successfully ferrying crews to the ISS since 2020, was “unanimous” among NASA officials, according to former astronaut and current NASA official Ken Bowersox.
Instead of launching a full four-person crew, SpaceX will now fly just two astronauts when it launches Dragon to the ISS in late September.
Williams and Wilmore will join this crew for the return trip to Earth in February 2025.
Boeing has continued to stand by its Starliner, despite the recent setbacks.
However, this latest development is likely to raise questions about the future of the capsule and its role in NASA’s crewed space missions.
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