Washington: NASA has announced a reduction in the number of astronauts on its upcoming SpaceX flight to the International Space Station (ISS) to accommodate crew members currently stranded aboard the station. Initially planned as a larger mission, the September launch will now include only two astronauts: NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. These two will return to Earth in February alongside Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.
Originally, Williams and Wilmore were scheduled to return via a Boeing Starliner capsule. However, NASA has decided against this due to ongoing technical issues with the Starliner, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. As a result, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who were initially assigned to the SpaceX mission, have been reassigned to future flights.
The decision was made with spaceflight experience in mind, highlighting NASA’s reliance on Russian spacecraft for ISS missions after the Space Shuttle program was retired. Since SpaceX began its crewed missions in 2020, NASA and Russia have continued to exchange seats on missions. For example, NASA’s Don Pettit is set to launch to the ISS next month, while NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson is scheduled to return to Earth aboard a Russian capsule.
NASA’s partnership with private companies like SpaceX is part of a broader strategy to ensure competitive and reliable access to space following the shuttle era. The Boeing Starliner, which was initially meant to transport Williams and Wilmore, will now return to Earth without passengers, with a landing targeted in the New Mexico desert as early as next Friday.
