NASA preparing SpaceX mission to return stranded Starliner astronauts

NASA says it is preparing to bring its two stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS).

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which is now scheduled to bring the pair home, is set to launch on Thursday.

NASA’s Crew-9 mission was originally planned as a 4-person mission but it has been reduced to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return trip.

American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian Aleksandr Gorbunov will man the Dragon capsule on its journey to the orbiting laboratory.

“We’re going to launch as a two-person crew and then we’re going to land as a four-person crew,” said Hague.

Bumped from the SpaceX flight are astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson. NASA said they could fly on future missions.

The US space agency said it took into account spaceflight experience and other factors in making the decision.

Marooned on the ISS

Embarking on what was intended to be an eight-day mission in June, Wilmore and Williams were stranded after their Boeing Starliner capsule experienced thruster failures and helium leaks. The capsule returned to Earth without them on September 6.

But the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft doesn’t mean immediate rescue for Wilmore and Williams; the stranded crew will still have to wait to go home.

It is not expected to return to Earth until February 2025.

Hauge says integrating the stranded astronauts into the Dragon operations is one of the unique challenges of the mission.

“The teams on the ground have helped not only get us ready, but they’ve already started helping Butch and Suni train to understand what they’re going to need to do inside of the Dragon,” he added.

According to NASA, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has previously flown SpaceX’s Crew-4 mission, and Axiom’s Mission 2 and 3.

In the meantime, Wilmore and Williams are helping with routine maintenance and experiments aboard the ISS.

“We’re excited to fly in two different spacecraft. I mean, we’re testers, that’s what we do. You know, we look at different aircraft, spacecraft, whatever, evaluate it. And that’s a pretty unique opportunity,” said Williams.

Once Hague and Gorbunov arrive aboard the ISS, the pair will be welcomed by the astronauts of SpaceX Crew-8 who will depart the space station after several days of handover.

According to NASA, Hague and Gorbunov will become members of the Expedition 72 crew and perform new research to prepare for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.

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Video editor • Roselyne Min