The two NASA astronauts who flew to the International Space Station on June 5 are still trapped there due to problems with their spacecraft upon arrival, and it is unclear when or how they will return.
NASA said in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday that it is considering using SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon to rescue Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams if their Boeing Starliner spacecraft proves too dangerous for return.
The two astronauts’ mission was originally scheduled to return in mid-June, but it has been more than two months since the Starliner spacecraft experienced a helium leak and problems with its propulsion system, which Wilmore and Williams found out about after docking with the ISS.
Contingency plans have not yet been developed, but NASA is considering sending Wilmore and Williams home on NASA’s SpaceX Crew 9 mission, which is scheduled to launch in September with two astronauts and return with four others in February, NASA said in a conference call Wednesday.
NASA-Boeing Starliner launch was ‘spectacular’ and mission went according to plan through day two, astronauts say
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were flight crew members on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was recovering from a series of problems. (NASA)
NASA has brought in new propulsion experts to investigate the root cause of the helium leak and the thruster operation.
Officials say that if NASA approves the contingency plans, Starliner will likely detach from the space station and return to Earth autonomously.
Starliner was a “lifeboat” for astronauts in case a Russian satellite crashed into the space station
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams during NASA’s live coverage of the launch on June 5, 2024. (NASA)
Meanwhile, Boeing says it is confident its new Starliner spacecraft will be safe to return Wilmore and Williams safely to Earth.
Click here to get the FOX News app
NASA says it needs more time to analyze the spacecraft’s steering thrusters, which experienced problems during the spacecraft’s first manned flight to the ISS.
Fox News’ Charles Bell and Jonathan Selli contributed to this report.
