Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over two months, are now scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Originally, the pair embarked on what was supposed to be an eight-day mission on June 5, 2024, but unforeseen technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft have extended their stay in orbit to approximately eight months.

The Boeing Starliner, which was making its first crewed test flight, encountered multiple problems on its journey to the ISS. These included helium leaks that compromised the spacecraft’s ability to push fuel into its propulsion system and the malfunction of several thrusters. These technical difficulties have kept engineers from Boeing and NASA working tirelessly for months, conducting tests and gathering data both in space and on Earth in an attempt to diagnose and resolve the issues.

Boeing and SpaceX were awarded billion-dollar contracts by NASA to develop commercial spaceflight capabilities. Boeing’s contract, valued at $4.2 billion, and SpaceX’s at $2.6 billion, represent NASA’s commitment to fostering private sector involvement in space exploration. While SpaceX has already successfully completed several crewed missions to the ISS, this mission marked Boeing’s first attempt to send astronauts into space with the Starliner. The spacecraft’s malfunction, however, has raised concerns about its reliability and has led to the decision to bring the astronauts back using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon instead.

NASA and Boeing ultimately decided to extend the astronauts’ stay on the ISS to allow for a safe return on a different spacecraft. SpaceX is set to launch its next Crew Dragon vehicle at the end of September 2024, initially planned to carry four astronauts. However, to accommodate Williams and Wilmore, the mission will now carry only two crew members to the ISS. Williams and Wilmore will join them for the return trip to Earth at the end of the mission in February 2025.

This decision underscores the challenges and risks associated with space travel, even with cutting-edge technology. As NASA and Boeing continue to investigate the Starliner’s issues, the focus remains on ensuring the safe return of the astronauts, now relying on the proven capabilities of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.