Boeing Starliner Astronauts Stuck: What Went Wrong and When They’ll Return Home

Two NASA astronauts who left on an 8-day mission back in June 2024 have still not returned home and now it'll likely last until the new year. 

What happened to the Boeing Starliner spacecraft?

On June 5, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the International Space Station on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. But soon after their arrival at the station, it was determined that the Starliner was unsafe to return home in. 

After its journey to the ISS, it was learned that the spacecraft experienced helium leaks as well as issues with the propulsion system. Both passengers were made aware of these issues once they were docked. 

This space mission was supposed to be the start of regular use of the spacecraft, but this mission was not good news for aerospace giant Boeing. 

The plan for safely returning Williams and Wilmore home

The crew has surpassed the two-month mark on what was originally only meant to be a week-long mission. NASA and Boeing quickly began considering how to get both astronauts home. 

Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, explained their hope for how the return will go. “Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner. However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.”

As of August 30, the Starliner will return to Earth without Wilmore and Williams on board, allowing NASA to further study the spacecraft and ensure a safe return home.

“Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeing’s Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. “I’m grateful to both the NASA and Boeing teams for all their incredible and detailed work.”

As of publication, the astronauts are set to remain in space until February 2025, and will ride back with the SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

Everything to know about the Boeing Starliner astronauts stuck in space

While this is the first crewed mission via the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, Suni Williams is no stranger to flying or space, as the current astronaut was formerly a Navy helicopter pilot. This is Williams’ third mission aboard the International Space Station.

The astronaut was a former record holder for the most spacewalks by a woman and the most spacewalk time for a woman. Across her two missions, Williams has spent a total of 322 days in space and her cumulative spacewalk time is at 50 hours and 40 minutes — putting her second on the list of the most spacewalk times. 

Although the return trip is unknown, Williams is happy to be back in space again. “It feels like coming back home. It feels good to float around,” she explained. “It feels good to be in space and work up here with the International Space Station team," she said. "So yeah, it’s great to be up here.”

Barry “Butch” Wilmore is a former Navy fighter jet pilot and has been to space twice before. Both he and Williams believe in Starliner’s ability to get them home and have confidence in their team. “We're absolutely confident [it'll get us back safe],” Wilmore said in an update with NASA.

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