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NASA has given a big update on when astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return from space. According to the US space agency, they have until the end of August to decide whether the two astronauts should be sent back on Boeing's Starliner or on SpaceX's plane.
It is known that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore reached the space station on June 5 by Boeing Starliner aircraft. This was a test flight. So the mission was only for eight days. But due to technical fault in the Starliner aircraft, it has not been possible for both the astronauts to return to Earth.
Return to Earth may be delayed until February 2025
A NASA official told Bowersox that we had a very good conversation with Boeing and they have 100 percent confidence in their Starliner aircraft. NASA is trying to find a way to safely return both the astronauts, so it does not want to take any kind of risk. This is the reason why the space agency is considering bringing both of them back with SpaceX aircraft in addition to Starliner. If this happens, Crew 9 can launch on September 24 with only 2 astronauts instead of 4.
A decision is likely by the end of August
On Wednesday, NASA informed in a press conference that it is still analyzing the thruster data. But Sunita Williams and Wilmore have not yet decided whether to use Starliner or Boeing's rival SpaceX aircraft to return to Earth. According to the information given by the NASA official, a decision on the return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth from SpaceX should be taken by the end of August, which is a setback for Boeing.
In 2014, NASA awarded contracts worth several billion dollars to SpaceX and Boeing. SpaceX conducted a successful crew test in 2020 and has carried dozens of astronauts since then. But Boeing's Starliner aircraft is facing major problems on its test flight. So is NASA relying on Starliner to bring back Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, or will it have to turn to Elon Musk's SpaceX again?
If both astronauts are brought back to Earth with the help of SpaceX, then it is considered a big setback for Boeing. Boeing and SpaceX are arch rivals, so the failure of Starliner will be a big embarrassment for Boeing.