NASA Chooses SpaceX to Bring Home Boeing Astronauts in 2024

NASA's Decision on Astronaut Return

Nasa has decided the lives of two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station will be in SpaceX's hands after weeks of intense deliberation and serious safety concerns. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson made the announcement during a press conference on Saturday at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Astronauts' Extended Mission

• The two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, have been on the ISS for 11 weeks.
• Their mission was originally supposed to last eight days.

Issues with Boeing's Starliner

The ordeal began when five of Starliner's 28 reaction control system thrusters failed as it traveled to the ISS in June. The spacecraft's helium system was also leaking. Mission controllers have been working to resolve the issues and test the spacecraft ever since in the hopes they — and not someone else — could safely bring the astronauts home.

Safety Concerns and Backup Plans

NASA leadership held an internal meeting earlier today to review whether Williams and Wilmore could safely return to Earth on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft or if they should rely on SpaceX's Crew Dragon instead. NASA's decision to trust SpaceX to complete the mission could significantly impact the future of Boeing's space program.

The Delay in Return

During a July press conference, a NASA official acknowledged that relying on SpaceX to retrieve the astronauts was an option but declined to provide details. NASA confirmed its SpaceX backup plan this month and postponed the company's next launch to September 24. The delay allows Wilmore and Williams to fly home with the SpaceX crew on its four-person spacecraft in February, about eight months later than their initial schedule.

Considerations of Safety

The SpaceX plan isn't without flaws. Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS in spacesuits compatible with Boeing's Starliner — not the Crew Dragon spaceship. They will have to travel to Earth without suits on the Crew Dragon spaceship, which does not guarantee as much protection for them, according to Fortune.

Significance of NASA's Decision

This is possibly the biggest safety decision NASA has had to make in decades. The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, during which seven astronauts died, has weighed heavily on the minds of the Starliner mission managers, many of whom were involved in that failed flight, Ars Technica reported.