Fri Sep 13 18:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Astronauts Stranded in Space After Boeing Capsule Issues, Await SpaceX Rescue
**Houston, TX** – Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were left behind at the International Space Station (ISS) after a series of issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule, have expressed their gratitude for the support they’ve received from around the world.
The two astronauts, who flew to the ISS in June as part of the first crewed Starliner mission, were forced to stay behind when NASA deemed the capsule unsafe for their return. They are now integrated into the station’s regular crew, participating in routine maintenance and scientific experiments.
Wilmore and Williams, both retired Navy captains and seasoned NASA astronauts, will remain at the ISS until late February. Their return will be facilitated by a SpaceX capsule, which is scheduled to launch later this month with two astronauts. Two empty seats on the return leg will be reserved for Wilmore and Williams.
The Starliner mission marked the first Boeing spaceflight with astronauts. The capsule encountered multiple problems during its flight, including thruster failures and helium leaks, before successfully docking with the ISS on June 6th. Despite its safe landing in New Mexico earlier this month, the future of Boeing’s role in NASA’s commercial crew program remains uncertain.
The space agency contracted both SpaceX and Boeing to provide astronaut transportation services after the Space Shuttle program retired in 2011. SpaceX has been successfully transporting astronauts since 2020.
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