NASA Update on Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams
Butch and Suni launched on Starliner on June 5 and arrived at the ISS on June 6.
NASA updated this week about astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams.
Both are safe and working on the International Space Station (ISS) with the Expedition 71 crew.
They are also involved in testing Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. If needed, they could return to Earth on Starliner in an emergency.
Butch and Suni launched on Starliner on June 5 and arrived at the ISS on June 6.
Their return has been delayed due to problems with the spacecraft, including thruster issues and leaks in the helium system.
NASA is investigating these problems and will decide on their return plan once the issues are resolved.
If Starliner isn’t ready, Butch and Suni might stay at the ISS until late February 2025.
In this case, NASA would adjust the SpaceX Crew-9 mission to send fewer crew members in September, allowing Butch and Suni to return on a later Crew-9 flight.
NASA has not yet decided if they will return on Starliner or a SpaceX spacecraft.
The astronauts were prepared for a longer stay, as they had previously completed long-duration missions.
A decision on Starliner’s return is expected by the end of August.