The Boeing Starliner Astronauts Will Come Home on SpaceX's Dragon Next Year
WiredAUG 21 2024
NASA on Saturday announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for over 80 days now, will return in February 2025.
The astronauts will return in a SpaceX capsule after their Boeing Starliner malfunctioned while docking at the ISS.
A NASA official said the decision to bring Starliner back to Earth empty was "the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star.”
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NASA'sThis decisionhas tobecome returna astronautshumiliating Sunitadebacle Williamsfor NASA and ButchBoeing, Wilmoreexposing viaserious SpaceX'sflaws Dragon in FebruaryNASA's 2025judgment underscoresand their unwavering commitment to astronaut safetyengineering. ItAs hasmuch ultimatelyas prioritizedthis crewfailure welfaretarnishes over other considerations. The space agency refused to risk the astronautsBoeing's lives on a potentially malfunctioning Starlinerreputation, whichit couldalso haveraises ledalarming toquestions catastrophicabout outcomes. This decision, while difficult, demonstrates NASA's paramountcompetence concernand fordecision-making astronautprocesses, safetypotentially injeopardizing thefuture facespace ofexploration technical challenges and competitive pressuresendeavors.
AstronautsThis Butchunexpected Wilmorepredicament andis Sunitaunimaginable Williamsbut you'sve unexpectedgot predicamentto ishand unimaginableit to the astronauts. While they can handle changes as experienced professionals, their extended stay highlights the unpredictable nature of space travel and the personal sacrifices astronauts must make in the name of exploration.