NASA has finally confirmed how stranded astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return home after the failed Boeing Starliner mission.
Astronauts Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, lifted off from Earth back in June to pilot the first flight of the Boeing Starliner capsule.
Their mission was a simple one, testing whether or not the reusable Starliner would be viable to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and was scheduled to last only eight days.
Unfortunately, the spacecraft has since run into issues with malfunctioning thrusters and leaking helium since lift off, leaving Wilmore and Williams to take up temporary residence on the ISS.
The pair have made the most of their extended stay on the ISS as the space agency frantically explored the different methods they could bring the pair home.
NASA finally confirmed their plans in a press conference last night (24 August), revealing that billionaire tech-tycoon Elon Musk will now be involved in their rescue.
The astronauts’ mission has lasted a lot longer than the planned eight days. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
During the conference, space agency officials explained that Wilmore and Williams will be picked up from the ISS by the crew of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which is set to lift off at the end of September.
Meanwhile, the Starliner will undock from the ISS and return to Earth without anyone on board.
The expected date of return is February 2025, which is a very long ‘eight’ days in space for the two astronauts.
“Nasa has decided that Butch and Suni will return with [SpaceX’s] Crew-9 next February, and that Starliner will return uncrewed,” NASA’s Bill Nelson said.
“I want you to know that Boeing has worked very hard with Nasa to get the necessary data to make this decision.
“We want to further understand the root causes and understand the design improvements so that the Boeing Starliner will serve as an important part of our assured crew access to the ISS.
The plans were announced in a press conference yesterday (24 August). (Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)
“Space flight is risky, even at its safest and even at its most routine, and a test flight by nature is neither safe nor routine, and so the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety.”
Following the announcement, Boeing’s Starliner chief Mark Nappi has since addressed employees in an email, which read (via The Telegraph): “I know this is not the decision we had hoped for, but we stand ready to carry out the action’s necessary to support NASA’s decision.
“The focus remains first and foremost on ensuring the safety of the crew and spacecraft.”
Featured Image Credit: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images/Richard Bord/WireImage
