NASA has announced a significant change in its mission plans following technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Two US astronauts, Barry \"Butch\" Wilmore and Sunita \"Suni\" Williams, who recently arrived at the International Space Station aboard Starliner, will return to Earth with SpaceX's Crew-9 mission scheduled for next February.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, \"NASA has decided that Butch and Suni will return with Crew-9 next February, and that Starliner will return uncrewed.\" This decision comes after encountering thruster malfunctions in the Boeing spacecraft, prompting a shift to SpaceX for their return journey.
The adjustment underscores the ongoing collaboration and reliability of SpaceX's Crew Dragon in supporting NASA’s Artemis program and other space exploration initiatives. While Boeing works to resolve the technical issues with Starliner, NASA remains committed to ensuring the safety and swift return of its astronauts.
This development highlights the dynamic nature of space missions and the importance of having multiple reliable partners to achieve safe and successful outcomes in international space endeavors.
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Astronauts from flawed Boeing mission to return to Earth with SpaceX
cgtn.com
