Boeing Starliner astronauts to remain in space, return date announced | Space

NASA leaders announced Saturday that the two Starliner astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, are officially looking at a lengthy eight-month stay aboard the International Space Station.

Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams will have to wait it out until February after a flight readiness review determined that it’s too risky for them to return to Earth on the Boeing spacecraft, NASA leaders announced Saturday.

The decision means the Starliner will return emptyhanded to Earth to free up a docking port for SpaceX Crew-9, which is scheduled to reach the space station Sept. 24 for a six-month rotation mission. The Dragon capsule that Crew-9 will take to orbit is also now Williams and Wilmore’s ride home, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson confirmed at a news conference.

“The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is result of a commitment to safety,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during the press conference. “Our core value is safety, and it is our North Star. And I’m grateful to NASA and to Boeing, for their teams, for all the incredible and detailed work to get to this decision.”

The decision brings to an end the mystery surrounding the fate of Williams and Wilmore, the veteran NASA astronauts who arrived June 6 at the orbital outpost for what was supposed to only be…