Two astronauts from the International Space Station will board SpaceX’s rocket in September, replacing the Boeing Starliner.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore PHOTO NASA
NASA dropped two astronauts from its next crew on Friday to make room on the return trip for the two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station.
NASAa’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will depart in September aboard a SpaceX rocket to the orbiting laboratory. The two will return with Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore in February. NASA decided it was too risky for Williams and Wilmore to return home in their Boeing Starliner capsule, plagued by problems with thrusters and helium leaks, writes theguardian.com.
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were removed from the SpaceX flight. NASA said they could fly on future missions.
The space agency said it considered spaceflight experience and other factors in making the decision.
After the shuttles were retired, the US relied on Russia to carry crews to the space station until SpaceX began carrying astronauts in 2020. The two countries continued to trade seats. Next month, NASA’s Don Pettit will launch to the space station, while NASA’s Tracy Dyson will return to Earth in Russian capsules.
NASA turned to private enterprise a decade ago, wanting two competing American companies to carry astronauts into the post-shuttle era.
Williams and Wilmore were the first Boeing crew, arriving at the space station in June for what was supposed to be a weeklong stay. Their capsule will return empty as early as next Friday, landing in the New Mexico desert.
