NASA has decided that the two astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule will return to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft early next year, Reuters reports.
The Starliner, which carried astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, encountered propulsion system issues that made it too risky to use Starliner for their return trip. The astronauts, who have been on the ISS for 79 days instead of the planned eight, will stay on the station to conduct additional experiments. They are expected to return in February 2025 using SpaceX Crew Dragon, which will accommodate them by leaving two of its seats empty. Meanwhile, Starliner will undock from the ISS without a crew and attempt an autonomous return to Earth in September.
Boeing’s Starliner has faced years of development problems and cost overruns, with recent mission challenges including thruster failures and helium leaks. This latest issue has cast doubt on Boeing’s path to certification for routine crewed missions and adds to the company’s broader struggles.
