NASA Selects SpaceX for Crew-9 Mission to Return Astronauts in February 2025 Amid Boeing Starliner Issues

Aug 24, 2024, 05:21 PM

NASA has announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been on the International Space Station since June, will return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025. This decision comes after technical issues with Boeing's Starliner, including concerns about helium leaks and degraded thrusters, made it unsafe for crewed transport. The Starliner will return uncrewed. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson confirmed that the Crew-9 mission in February 2025 will accommodate the astronauts' return, highlighting SpaceX's reliability in crew safety. This marks a significant setback for Boeing's Starliner program, initially intended to be a primary crew transport vehicle.