NASA has made the decision to send two astronauts on the next SpaceX mission to the International Space Station instead of the planned four in order to bring home two astronauts who remain stranded at the station. The decision was made due to issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule, which has struggled with thruster troubles and helium leaks. Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov are expected to launch for the space station at the end of September. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson have been cut from the mission to make room for the stranded astronauts on the return flight.
The decision to fly Hague on the mission was made by NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba, who had to balance the need for a crew member with previous spaceflight experience to command the flight while ensuring the safety of the mission. Acaba acknowledged that changing astronaut crews is a tough decision, as the crew had trained together as a team of four. The U.S. has previously relied on Russia to ferry astronauts to the ISS, but SpaceX began taking astronauts to the station with its rockets in 2020.
The astronauts who were cut from the mission, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, expressed confidence in their colleagues who will be going on the mission and their dedication to the success of the mission. Hague, an active-duty colonel in the U.S. Space Force, has previously launched three times, including twice to the ISS. Gorbunov will be making his first trip to space. The decision to send only two astronauts on the mission was made in order to prioritize the safe return of the stranded astronauts from the ISS.
The Boeing Starliner capsule was not deemed “ready for primetime” according to an aerospace engineer. The capsule has experienced thruster troubles and helium leaks, leading to the decision to send it back to Earth unmanned. The astronauts who were previously stranded at the space station will now have the opportunity to return to Earth in February, while Hague and Gorbunov will launch for the space station in September. The decision to cut two astronauts from the mission was made to prioritize the safe return of the stranded astronauts and ensure the success of the mission.
The astronauts who were cut from the mission expressed confidence in their colleagues and their dedication to the success of the mission. Cardman and Wilson will continue to assist their crewmates ahead of launch and are eligible for reassignment on future missions. NASA has made the decision to prioritize the safety and success of the mission by sending only two astronauts on the next SpaceX mission to the International Space Station. Hague, Gorbunov, Cardman, and Wilson all remain dedicated to the success of the mission and look forward to future opportunities for spaceflight.
