Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are set to return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX spacecraft, NASA said on Saturday. The astronauts were initially scheduled for an eight-day mission, but due to complications with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, their stay in orbit has been extended to approximately eight months.
NASA confirmed that the Starliner spacecraft, which encountered issues such as helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters on its journey to the International Space Station, will return to Earth unmanned.
Boeing, alongside SpaceX, holds a billion-dollar contract with NASA for commercial space flights. Engineers from both Boeing and NASA are actively working to resolve the Starliner’s technical problems and are conducting rigorous tests to ensure the astronauts’ safe return.
