On Wednesday, NASA officials announced that if Boeing's Starliner is still considered unsafe for returning astronauts to Earth, the two astronauts delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) in June might return on SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025.
NASA is in discussions with SpaceX about reserving two seats on an upcoming Crew Dragon launch for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the first crew to fly aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
The astronauts' mission, originally planned to last around eight days, has been extended due to problems with Starliner's propulsion system. These issues have raised concerns about the spacecraft's ability to return them safely as scheduled.
A Boeing spokesperson stated that if NASA decides to alter Starliner's mission, the company "will take the necessary steps to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return."
Problems during Starliner's initial approach to the ISS in June included thruster failures and helium leaks, which have prompted Boeing to undertake a testing campaign to diagnose the issues and propose solutions to NASA. Recent test results have heightened concerns about a safe return.
This new data has sparked internal debates within NASA regarding whether to risk a Starliner return or opt for Crew Dragon instead.
