- NASA chooses SpaceX to rescue stranded astronauts from ISS
- Boeing’s Starliner faces ongoing technical issues
- This decision highlights SpaceX’s dominance in commercial spaceflight
Houston, We Have a Solution
NASA has chosen SpaceX to bring home two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The decision, announced by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, comes after weeks of deliberation and underscores ongoing safety concerns with Boeing’s space endeavors.
A Cosmic Detour
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, originally slated for an eight-day mission, have been aboard the ISS for 11 weeks. Their extended stay resulted from multiple failures in Starliner’s systems during its June flight to the station.
The pair will now return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February, sans spacesuits designed for Starliner.
Boeing’s Space Race Setback
This development marks another blow to Boeing’s space ambitions. Despite a $4.2 billion investment from NASA, Starliner has faced numerous delays and technical issues.
In contrast, SpaceX has been regularly ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS since completing its first crewed test flight four years ago, at a significantly lower cost to NASA.
