NASA reveals when stranded astronauts will return

A decision has been made on when the two Boeing Starliner astronauts will come back to Earth as tech billionaire Elon Musk weighs in.

The two Boeing Starliner astronauts who have been stranded in space for 80 days will stay for another six months, NASA officials have announced.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now expected to return to Earth in February 2025, while the Starliner will be brought back unmanned.

They will return as part of tech billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon Crew-9 mission, officials said.

The pair blasted off on June 5 in what was meant to be an eight-day trip.

But NASA and Boeing decided to postpone their return after malfunctions came to light when Starliner docked on the International Space Station the next day.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are stranded in space. Picture: Supplied

The Starliner encountered thruster failures and helium leaks so serious that NASA kept the capsule parked as engineers tried to find a solution, the New York Post reports.

NASA said the decision to bring the astronauts home in February was the result of a “commitment to safety”.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson said NASA was still “100 per cent” certain the Starliner will launch with an astronaut crew again in the future.

DECISION MARKS PAIR’S 80TH DAY IN SPACE

The announcement marks the pair’s 80th day in space and comes after weeks of waiting as NASA staff worked to make a call on the issue.

NASA’s space operations mission chief said earlier this month that the two astronauts were “making the best” of their extra time.

“We’ve had very honest discussions with each other, and I am not surprised the Boeing team are 100 per cent behind their vehicle,” Ken Bowersox said.

“But I can also tell you that they want to work with us in a partnership, which the NASA team thinks is important. When we get to a decision, we will work through it together.”

“Our big concern is having a successful deorbit burn,” he said.

Boeing when it launched its very first astronauts bound for the International Space Station aboard a Starliner capsule. Picture: AFP

NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba said Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams prepared for the mission knowing that it was a test flight and it “might not be perfect.”

“Human space flight is inherently risky and as astronauts we accept that as part of the job,” he said.

Butch Wilmore take part in the space Olympics. Picture: Supplied

NASA astronaut Suni Williams take part in the space Olympics. Picture: Supplied

Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, revealed that there had been intense discussions on the best way forward, with Boeing expressing confidence in its spacecraft after carrying out ground testing to replicate the technical issues seen in space.

“I think the NASA community in general would like to understand a little bit more of the root cause and the physics,” he said.

Notably absent from the briefing were representatives from Boeing, heightening the perception of a rift.

Originally published as NASA reveals when stranded astronauts will return