NASA officials announced Wednesday that two astronauts might have to switch from Boeing’s Starliner to SpaceX for their return from the International Space Station due to safety concerns. Test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who launched on Starliner in June, may end up staying on the station for eight months instead of the planned two weeks.
The uncertainty stems from thruster failures and helium leaks in the Starliner capsule, which are still under investigation. NASA is considering leaving two seats vacant on SpaceX’s next taxi flight, scheduled for late September, to bring Wilmore and Williams back in February.
NASA’s Ken Bowersox stated that a final decision would be made by mid-August, emphasizing the importance of having multiple reliable vehicles for astronaut transport.
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