Quick Hit:

NASA announced Saturday that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which ferried two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, will return to Earth without them. Originally slated for a week-long mission, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have remained in space due to ongoing technical issues with the spacecraft, and are now expected to return to Earth in February 2025.

Key Details:

• The Starliner was supposed to return to Earth after about a week, but the mission was extended due to helium leaks and thruster problems discovered after docking with the ISS.

• NASA and Boeing decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth uncrewed to continue testing the spacecraft while ensuring astronaut safety.

• Wilmore and Williams will now return on the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon mission, scheduled for February 2025.

Diving Deeper:

NASA has confirmed that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, initially intended to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth after a week-long mission, will return uncrewed. The mission, which began in June, encountered significant setbacks when helium leaks and thruster issues were identified shortly after docking with the ISS. These technical problems led to an unexpected extension of the astronauts' time in space, as the original plan was for them to return within a week.

Given the risks involved with a crewed return under current conditions, NASA and Boeing opted for an uncrewed return to gather more data on the Starliner's performance. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson highlighted the agency's commitment to safety, stating, "The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeing's Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star."

As a result of this decision, Wilmore and Williams will remain on the ISS until February 2025, when they are scheduled to return aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon mission. The mission will accommodate the two astronauts by reducing its crew size and providing them with Dragon-specific spacesuits, as their current Boeing suits are incompatible with the SpaceX spacecraft​.

The Starliner is expected to make its autonomous return to Earth in early September, marking the spacecraft's third uncrewed flight. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, expressed confidence in the spacecraft's capabilities despite returning without its crew, noting that the extensive testing and analysis conducted thus far will greatly inform future corrective actions and ensure the safety of subsequent missions.