Veteran astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are currently stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to complications with the Boeing-made Starliner, a spacecraft that was supposed to transport them to and from the ISS as part of a mission to test its capabilities with a human crew in space. The delay in their return home was caused by various issues with the Starliner, including problems with a valve in the rocket and multiple helium leaks, as well as failed control thrusters. Despite these setbacks, NASA has assured that the astronauts are safe and not in immediate danger.
The decision was made to return the Starliner to Earth without a crew, likely in September, and then bring Wilmore and Williams home on the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft in early 2025. They will continue their work as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew through February 2025, with plans for the Crew-9 mission to launch no sooner than September 24. Two crew members originally scheduled for the SpaceX mission will stay behind to make room for Wilmore and Williams’ return trip. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in the decision-making process, stating that the agency’s commitment to safety is their core value.
Despite the extended stay on the ISS and the issues with the Starliner, both astronauts appear to be handling the situation well. Williams expressed contentment with their time in space during a news conference held from orbit, while Wilmore praised the spacecraft’s performance, despite the thruster problems they faced. Both astronauts are said to support the agency’s decision for their return on the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon and are ready to continue their mission on the ISS. NASA and Boeing continue to work on finalizing plans for the uncrewed return of the Starliner and remain focused on gathering information for future corrective actions.
