Boeing Starliner astronauts could be stuck in space for eight months as NASA confirms no return date set

NASA said there is no return date set for the stranded astronauts on the Boeing Starliner Crew Test Flight (CFT) mission to return to Earth .

“We’ve got time, and it’s a fairly major discussion to decide about whether or not we’re going to have crew aboard Strainer for return, so we’re anticipating another flight readiness review meeting after the programs have had a chance to meet," Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, told reporters during the livestreamed audio call conference.

"We’re expecting that the data analysis will be ready for our program board by the middle to end of next week and would be ready for a flight readiness review at the end of next week into the beginning of the following week," he added.

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In other words, NASA won't have a better idea of when the astronauts can return until the end of August, or next week, at the earliest. But there are worries that the astronauts could be stranded until early 2025 — eight months from now — which is when the next SpaceX Crew Dragon flight is scheduled. That's the backup plan if Starliner fails and is ultimately unsafe for the astronauts to return in.

Bowersox assured the public, however, that Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are "well-engaged on board the International Space Station." He said, "I know if I was in their position, I'd be really happy to be there, and I'd be happy to have the extra time."

"It's great to be there enjoying the environment, eating that great space food and being able to look out the window. I know they’re making the best of this time, but I’m sure they’re eager for a decision, just like the rest of us. When we have that, we will be sure to get together with the rest of you and share that information," he concluded. Officials added later in the conference that they are prioritizing setting a return date or return plan on another spacecraft as soon as possible.

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The entire country had been waiting with bated breath to hear more information about Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, two astronauts who were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for a weeklong stay. That ended up turning into a monthslong trip that might not end until 2025, the latest reports indicated ahead of the press conference.

NASA's chief astronaut, Joe Acaba, told reporters that Williams and Wilmore "embark on missions fully aware of the various scenarios and outcomes that may become our realities." He added that NASA officials are in conversations with them about a return plan.

"This mission was a test flight," he said. "They knew this mission might not be perfect." He said they have intense and rigorous training to ensure they're both physically and mentally prepared for the challenges they might face. He added, "Human space flight is inherently risky, and, as astronauts, we accept that as part of the job."

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission was launched on June 5, with both NASA astronauts on board the spacecraft. But when it attempted to dock into the orbiting lab, it experienced problems that neither NASA nor Boeing were able to help the two troubleshoot.

The problem, according to Space.com , occurred with the capsule's reaction control system (RCS) thrusters, which reportedly malfunctioned. A handful of them failed to activate turning the craft's approach to the ISS. That was on June 6.

Ahead of the briefing, there wasn't a target departure date for Starliner as rumors circulated that the craft might be beyond repair — meaning that both Williams and Wilmore wouldn't be able to return to Earth using it.

There was, however, a backup plan in place. The duo is expected to come home in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, should Starliner's issues not be resolved to the satisfaction of NASA and in a manner that would allow both astronauts to safely return to Earth. If that were to be the plan enacted, it could be as long as eight months before the astronauts can return home — when the next SpaceX Crew Dragon flight is scheduled to fly to the ISS.

CFT was reportedly Starliner's third overall space flight and its first with humans in the craft. It had gone to the ISS in December 2019 and again in May 2022 without crews.

The 2019 mission reportedly failed, however, with the craft getting stuck in the wrong orbit, which prevented it from rendezvousing with the orbiting lab. The 2022 flight was successful, however, and so the mission was able to carry on earlier this year.

Contracts were awarded to both Boeing and SpaceX back in September 2014 by NASA, it was reported, both of which NASA tasked with carrying astronauts to and from the ISS. SpaceX ended up flying its version of CFT in 2020 and is now in the middle of its eight operational, long-duration astronaut flight to the ISS for NASA, called Crew-8. Boeing is behind its competitors.

NASA personnel expected at the briefing included: Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate; Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate; Russ DeLoach, chief of NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance; Joe Acaba, NASA's chief astronaut; and Emily Nelson, the chief flight director for NASA's Flight Operations Directorate. It was scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday and livestreamed on NASA's website.