NASA cuts 2 from next SpaceX flight to make room for astronauts stuck at space station

NASA removed two astronauts from the next SpaceX crew to accommodate the return of two others currently stranded at the International Space Station .

NASA's Nick Hague and Russian Aleksandr Gorbunov are set to launch in September on a SpaceX rocket bound for the orbiting laboratory. They will then return with Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore in February.

NASA deemed it too risky for Williams and Wilmore to fly home in their Boeing Starliner capsule, which has been plagued by thruster issues and helium leaks .

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The astronauts who have been removed from the SpaceX flight are NASA's Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson. However, NASA has stated that they may be able to fly on future missions.

Since the retirement of the shuttles, the US has depended on Russia to transport crews to the space station until SpaceX began ferrying astronauts in 2020. The two nations have continued to exchange seats.

Next month, NASA's Don Pettit will be launching to the space station while NASA's Tracy Dyson will be returning to Earth on Russian capsules.

A decade ago, NASA began relying on private companies 10 years ago, hoping to have two competing US firms transporting astronauts in the post-shuttle era.

Williams and Wilmore were the first crew for Boeing, arriving at the space station in June for what was meant to be a weeklong stay. Their capsule is expected to return empty as early as next Friday, aiming for a landing in the New Mexico desert.