At a NASA news conference on Wednesday, September 4, officials updated the status of the Starliner spacecraft. Steve Stich, Manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, confirmed that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were never stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), with Starliner always available as a return vehicle. They have now transitioned to key roles on the ISS expedition team, Stich explained.
ISS Manager Dana Weigel emphasized that Wilmore and Williams were well-prepared for extended missions due to their comprehensive training in spacewalks and robotics, aiding their smooth transition to full expedition roles.
NASA announced that the uncrewed Starliner capsule would undock no earlier than September 6, after reviewing propulsion issues from its June flight. Due to these glitches, NASA will use a SpaceX vehicle for the astronauts' return next year.
The Starliner's six-hour return journey to White Sands Space Harbor will be managed by ground teams. Despite challenges, NASA is confident in Starliner's capabilities, citing successful uncrewed landings during previous tests.
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