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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: What was meant to be a weeklong trip to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first NASA astronauts to fly with Boeing could extend to eight months, with the agency considering bringing them home on a SpaceX spaceship. A final decision on whether to persist with Boeing's Starliner—which experienced concerning propulsion system problems as it flew up to the orbital platform in June—is expected...

Boeing’s Starliner approaches the International Space Station on a test flight. NASA officials have said the agency might have to rely on SpaceX to return two American astronauts to Earth from the station because of problems with the Starliner. NASA officials conceded Wednesday that the agency might have to rely on SpaceX to return two American astronauts to Earth from the International Space Station due to problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were launched on June 5 to the orbiting lab in the Starliner’s first...

For weeks, NASA has downplayed problems experienced by Starliner, a Boeing spacecraft that took two astronauts to the International Space Station in June. But Wednesday, NASA officials admitted that the problems with the spacecraft were more serious than first thought and that the astronauts may not travel home on the Boeing vehicle after all. The agency is exploring a backup option for the astronauts, Suni Wiliams and Butch Wilmore, to hitch a ride back to Earth on a vehicle built by Boeing’s competitor SpaceX instead. Their stay in orbit, which...

NASA is considering partnering with SpaceX to bring its astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, back home due to ongoing concerns about Boeing's Starliner capsule — despite Boeing's assurance that the spacecraft is capable of the task. In a call with reporters Wednesday, Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager, said that mission control has still not determined a return date and confirmed the space agency is exploring the use of SpaceX's Crew-9 Dragon as a backup plan. Boeing's CST-100 Starliner crew ship approaches the International Space Station on the...