NASA has decided that two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight.
Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who have been in space since June, were initially set to return on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, technical problems with the Starliner, including helium leaks and thruster failures, led NASA to change plans.
After thorough testing and reviews, NASA determined that the Starliner would return to Earth without a crew. Instead, Williams and Wilmore will return on the next SpaceX mission, which will be modified to accommodate them.
NASA and Boeing continue to work on fixing the Starliner issues for future missions. The astronauts’ return is scheduled for February 2025, following SpaceX’s upcoming launch to the ISS later this year.
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