However, upon arrival at the ISS, the spacecraft encountered severe malfunctions, including:
- Five helium leaks
- Five dead maneuvering thrusters
- A malfunctioning propellant valve
These issues rendered the Starliner unsafe for a return journey. Despite months of troubleshooting, NASA and Boeing determined that the spacecraft should return to Earth without a crew.
By September 2024, NASA decided that Williams and Wilmore would remain on the ISS until another solution was arranged.
SpaceX Crew Dragon: The New Ride Home
The astronauts weren’t alone during their extended stay. In September, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov joined them on the ISS.
Eventually, NASA decided that all four would return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The capsule, which had been docked at the ISS since September 2024, will bring them back to Earth, landing off the coast of Florida by mid-March.
Political Controversy Surrounding the Delay
The prolonged stay in space has drawn political speculation. Former U.S. President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested that the astronauts were deliberately left in space for political reasons. Musk claimed that SpaceX had previously offered to bring them home but was ignored.
