NASA Astronauts to Return on SpaceX in February

NASA has decided that astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in February 2025, after issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft made it unsafe for their return. The astronauts were initially scheduled to spend only eight days at the ISS but will now remain for eight months due to helium leaks and thruster problems on the Starliner. NASA's unanimous decision to use SpaceX underscores ongoing safety concerns and technical disagreements with Boeing, despite Boeing's assurances about the Starliner's capabilities. Boeing employees expressed frustration over the decision, citing recent embarrassments and operational challenges. The Starliner will return to Earth autonomously in September to make way for the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which has been reconfigured to accommodate the astronauts' return.