Two NASA astronauts who have been stranded in space will be returned to Earth by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, rather than the Boeing vehicle that initially transported them. The astronauts, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, have been stuck aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner, which encountered problems while docked at the station.
According to The Wall Street Journal, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced the decision on Saturday. Wilmore and Williams, who have been at the ISS since June 6, are now expected to return in February aboard a SpaceX craft.
SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell expressed the company’s readiness to assist, stating, “SpaceX stands ready to support NASA however we can.”
During a briefing on the situation, Ken Bowersox, a senior NASA space operations administrator, emphasized that they are not limited to using Starliner for the return journey. Boeing also acknowledged the possibility of a mission change, saying, “If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return.”
The astronauts’ stay aboard the ISS, which was originally planned to last just eight days, has been extended for months due to the Starliner’s thruster failures and other issues. Tensions between NASA and Boeing officials have risen, with debates over whether Starliner is ready to safely bring the astronauts back. NASA manager Steve Stich noted that the disagreements largely stem from differing assessments of the data’s uncertainties.