National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that two American astronauts currently stranded on International Space Station (ISS) will be returning to Earth in February 2025 aboard a spaced Dragon spacecraft.
Gatekeepers News reports that NASA made the announcement through a statement released on Saturday.
The astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore who initially planned an eight day mission, have been stuck in space since June after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered technical issues.
NASA revealed that preparations are underway to bring the astronauts back using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
The agency noted that 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.
It said, “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.”
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 added that though there is an option of bringing 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.
