NASA Astronauts to Return After 10-Month Space Station Stay Following Starliner Issues

The prolonged mission of Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams highlights Boeing's Starliner setbacks and NASA's reliance on SpaceX for their safe return.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, originally scheduled for a 10-day mission, have spent 277 days in orbit due to safety issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
NASA determined in August 2024 that Starliner was not safe for crewed return and opted to bring the astronauts back using SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle.
The Starliner mission faced significant technical challenges, including helium leaks and propulsion system failures, leading to the spacecraft's uncrewed return to Earth in September 2024.
SpaceX's Crew-9 mission integrated Wilmore and Williams into its rotation, extending their stay on the International Space Station and allowing time for necessary safety preparations for their return.
Despite claims by Elon Musk and former President Trump that political motives delayed the astronauts' return, NASA officials state the timeline was driven by technical and logistical considerations.