NASA has yet to decide when astronauts will return home

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — It started out as eight days in space.

“If Butch and Suni do not come home on Starliner and they are kept aboard the station, they will have about eight months on board it,” NASA Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba said.

NASA officials say it’s still up in the air as to when and how to bring astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore home.

The Boeing Starliner they took to the International Space Station in June had problems with thrusters and helium leaks in the propulsion system.

NASA said Wednesday it’s analyzing data before reaching a decision on a return plan.

“We’ve got time available. Before we, we bring Starliner home, and we want to use that time wisely,” NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate associate administrator Ken Bowersox said.

NASA plans to hold meetings next week to review the possibility of getting the Starliner back to Earth but they can’t wait too long.

“We’re reaching a point where that last week in August, we really should be making a call. If not sooner,” Bowersox said.

NASA says Williams and Wilmore are enjoying their time on the space station and are well prepared if they need to stay in space, possibly until February.

“This mission is a test flight. And as Butch and Suni expressed ahead of their launch, they knew this mission might not be perfect,” Acaba said.

And if an emergency happens, NASA says Starliner can still be utilized.

“We think, the risk is reasonable to put Butch and Suni on that vehicle in a contingency,” Bowersox said.

If Williams and Wilmore cannot travel back on Starliner, they will catch a ride on SpaceX’s next flight.

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