News Desk

The Advocate Post: Mr. Wilmore, 61, and Ms. Williams, 58, piloted a Boeing Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) in the first crewed test flight of this new vehicle. The mission aimed to evaluate the spacecraft’s performance for future use. However, issues arose during the approach, including leaks in the propulsion system and malfunctioning thrusters. Despite safely reaching the ISS, concerns about the Starliner’s safety for the return trip mean the astronauts may need an alternative way home.

In a Wednesday briefing, NASA officials stated that no decisions had been made about the next steps. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said that while returning the astronauts on the Starliner is the primary option, other possibilities are being considered. One alternative involves adding the astronauts to a mission launching in September aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft, which would bring them back to Earth in February 2025. This plan would extend their stay on the ISS from eight days to over eight months.

If this option is chosen, the Starliner would return to Earth without a crew, controlled by computers. NASA officials indicated that a final decision might take a week or more.