NASA reveals Boeing Starliner crew may not return until 2025, SpaceX may help

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been in space for over two months after the Boeing Starliner launched them into space in early June. That is much longer than the pair’s anticipated return date in mid-June. NASA said on Wednesday, Aug. 7, that it could be even more months until the astronauts can return home.

The agency said that while a timeline is still unclear, it might not be until sometime in 2025 when it can get the two astronauts back to Earth.

Officials with NASA said they are currently developing contingency plans to get them back if the Starliner can’t. One of the plans would include the astronauts catching a ride aboard a future SpaceX mission.

The agency maintains that no final decision has been made but the SpaceX Crew Dragon could be the answer to getting Williams and Wilmore home. NASA said that potential suits, room aboard the vehicle, and the necessary adjustments to accommodate Williams and Wilmore have been analyzed for this scenario. However, if the pair takes this route, the slated return date would be in February as SpaceX completes its mission.

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NASA said on Tuesday that it plans to delay an upcoming SpaceX launch. The original date of Aug. 18 has now shifted back to Sept. 24. The agency said that this ensures Boeing and NASA will have time to analyze thruster and helium leak problems that have plagued the Starliner. The tests align with the agency’s primary goal of returning the astronauts aboard the Starliner.

Meanwhile, only two docks on the International Space Station (ISS) can hold U.S. astronaut capsules and both are currently occupied. That means that one vehicle will need to be removed before the next SpaceX crew arrives.

Initial reports indicated that the Starliner’s software could not undock without a crew and a software update to fix the problem would reportedly take up to four weeks. However, NASA addressed that report on Wednesday and said that it has alternative plans to undock the Starliner. NASA said the space capsule will be capable of autonomous undocking without requiring a total software overhaul.

Tests are ongoing with the Starliner. Once those are completed, a better timeline on how and when to bring Williams and Wilmore home will be known.