Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore left for their mission in early June and were initally at risk of not coming home until 2025
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Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in 2024
NASA is bringing home astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who have been stuck in space for 80 days.
CNN reported that NASA held a review to discuss the situation on Saturday, Aug. 24. After weighing the safety of their vehicles available, NASA concluded that a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule would be able to be used to bring Williams and Wilmore home.
The Starliner vehicle, which launched Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 61, to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida’s Space Coast on June 5, experienced helium leaks and thrusters that weren’t functioning amid their trip into space.
The mechanical issues initially seemed minor, and Boeing stated that they wouldn’t affect the astronauts’ coming home on time.
However, NASA revealed days later that the aircraft would potentially not be safe for their trip back to Earth, which set their return timeline to 2025, and the organization began brainstorming.
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Starliner launched on June 5
Related: How 2 Astronauts Stuck in Space Spend Their Time While Waiting for Rescue
An initial plan to bring the astronauts home wouldn’t have been possible until February 2025 at the earliest. Now, the astronauts will return in early September, thanks to a unanimous decision from NASA representatives.
“We have had mistakes done in the past: We lost two space shuttles as a result of there not being a culture in which information could come forward,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said.
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“Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and even at its most routine. And a test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine,” he added.
Boeing, meanwhile, said in a statement that the company “continues 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.”
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Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore
Amid Starliner’s technical issues in July, Williams and Wilmore spoke about spending time on the ISS.
Williams expressed confidence in NASA, saying she has “a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem.”
Wilmore, meanwhile, shared the same sentiment. “That mantra you’ve heard, failure is not an option. And that’s why we’re staying here now,” he said.
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