NASA to Use SpaceX's Crew Dragon to Safely Return Stranded Astronauts

During the weekend, NASA stated that due to risks associated with Boeing's "Starliner" spacecraft, two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, took Boeing's Starliner on its first manned test flight on June 5 and arrived at the International Space Station on June 6. The return journey has been repeatedly postponed due to different kinds of issues.

The Starliner was originally scheduled to separate from the space station on June 14 and return to Earth, but due to Boeing's delays in repairing the spacecraft's faults, the two astronauts have been on the International Space Station for about 80 days.

Before this announcement, NASA conducted a final review on Saturday to determine whether it considered Boeing's Starliner safe enough to return the two astronauts to Earth or if the Crew Dragon needed to step in to salvage the situation.

In fact, as early as August 7, NASA was considering deploying SpaceX's Crew Dragon. Since 2020, the Crew Dragon has carried out 12 commercial manned space missions.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on Saturday that all factors had been considered and a consensus had been reached. This whole discussion, remember, is put in the context of we have had mistakes done in the past. Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. And a test flight by nature is neither safe nor routine.

NASA also stated that the Starliner spacecraft would return to Earth without a crew, that is, it would return empty. If its unmanned return journey goes smoothly, then NASA will face a key decision: can the Starliner continue to carry out manned space missions next?

There were no representatives from Boeing present at the press conference on Saturday. NASA also revealed some disagreement with Boeing on risk assessment.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said the ambiguity around the level of risk was the main reason the agency turned to SpaceX. There is some uncertainty with the thrusters of the Starliner, which poses too much risk to the astronauts, so we made this decision.

Nelson claimed that he was 100 percent confident that Boeing would resolve these technical issues and arrange another manned mission for the Starliner at some point in the future.

SpaceX is also ready, as its Crew-9 space mission will only carry two crew members to the International Space Station to perform scientific tasks, making room for the stranded astronauts.

Boeing issued a statement that day saying, We continue to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft. We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return.