NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Originally, their mission was supposed to last just eight days as part of a critical test flight for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, the mission has stretched on for months due to significant technical problems with the Starliner, which has forced NASA to shift its plans and find a new way to bring the astronauts home safely.
The trouble began shortly after the Starliner launched on June 5, 2024, with Williams and Wilmore aboard. Designed to be a key component of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the Starliner was meant to demonstrate its ability to safely transport astronauts to and from the ISS. However, shortly before docking with the ISS, the Starliner experienced a helium leak that caused five of its thrusters to malfunction. Although the spacecraft managed to dock with the ISS, the technical issues raised serious concerns about whether it could safely return the astronauts to Earth.
In the months following the docking, NASA and Boeing conducted extensive tests and analyses to determine the extent of the Starliner’s issues. These tests, which included reviews of data and ground-based simulations, aimed to assess whether the spacecraft could be safely used for the return journey. Unfortunately, the findings indicated that the spacecraft’s reliability could not be guaranteed, prompting NASA to make the difficult decision to return the Starliner to Earth without any crew aboard.
This decision was not made lightly. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that the safety of the astronauts is the agency’s top priority, and that the decision to use SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft for the return was made to avoid any unnecessary risks. “Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine,” Nelson said, underscoring the inherent dangers of such missions.
The extended mission has not been without its benefits, however. While aboard the ISS, Williams and Wilmore have been actively involved in a variety of tasks beyond their original mission objectives. They have supported station research, conducted maintenance, and assisted in testing and data analysis of the Starliner’s systems. This work has provided valuable insights and data that will inform future missions and help improve the safety and reliability of crewed spaceflight.
NASA has now scheduled the astronauts’ return for February 2025, as part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. This mission, originally planned for September 2024, has been reconfigured to accommodate the return of Williams and Wilmore. The Crew-9 Dragon capsule will launch from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with a new crew configuration and additional cargo, including personal effects and Dragon-specific spacesuits for the returning astronauts.
The delay and reconfiguration of the mission have broader implications for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The program, which aims to provide the U.S. with reliable, American-made spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, has been a major focus for NASA in recent years. The issues with the Starliner, however, have highlighted the challenges and risks associated with developing new spacecraft. Boeing has faced substantial financial losses due to the delays and technical problems with the Starliner, and the program’s future remains uncertain.
Despite these challenges, Boeing and NASA continue to express confidence in the Starliner’s potential. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, emphasized that the data gathered from the uncrewed return of the Starliner will be crucial in addressing the spacecraft’s issues and preparing it for future missions. “The NASA and Boeing teams have completed a tremendous amount of testing and analysis, and this flight test is providing critical information on Starliner’s performance in space,” Stich said.
Looking ahead, NASA and Boeing will work together to ensure that the Starliner meets the necessary certification requirements for future crewed missions. The uncrewed return of the spacecraft, scheduled for early September 2024, will be a key step in this process. Once the Starliner has safely returned to Earth, NASA will review all mission-related data to determine what additional actions are needed to ensure the spacecraft’s readiness for regular flights.
The extended mission of Williams and Wilmore is a reminder of the complexities and risks inherent in space exploration. The unexpected challenges they have faced highlight the importance of thorough testing, rigorous analysis, and a commitment to safety in all aspects of spaceflight. As NASA and its partners continue to push the boundaries of human space exploration, the lessons learned from this mission will be invaluable in shaping the future of crewed space missions.
As the February 2025 return date approaches, NASA and SpaceX will continue to prepare for the safe return of Williams and Wilmore. The mission will mark the end of an unexpectedly prolonged stay on the ISS, bringing the astronauts home after nearly nine months in space. Their return will be a significant milestone in NASA’s ongoing efforts to maintain safe and reliable transportation to and from the ISS, and it will provide critical insights that will inform the development of future spacecraft and missions.
