The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, has announced that two American astronauts currently stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) will be returning to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, have been stuck in space since June after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered technical issues during what was initially planned as an eight-day mission.
In a statement released on Saturday, NASA revealed that preparations are underway to bring the astronauts back using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
According to the statement, the spacecraft, which typically has a four-person capacity, will launch with two crew members, leaving space for Williams and Wilmore to join the return journey at the end of its mission in February.
“NASA and SpaceX are currently working on several items before the launch, including reconfiguring seats on the Crew-9 Dragon and adjusting the manifest to carry additional cargo, personal effects, and Dragon-specific spacesuits for Wilmore and Williams,” NASA stated.
The launch is scheduled to take place at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, offering greater operational flexibility.
NASA also mentioned that while there is an option to bring the malfunctioning Starliner spacecraft back to Earth either crewed or uncrewed, the agency has opted for an uncrewed return.
The Starliner is expected to make a safe, controlled autonomous re-entry and landing in early September.