NASA is turning to SpaceX for an emergency astronaut pickup after Boeing's Starliner spacecraft faced critical propulsion issues during its first crewed mission. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who've been stuck at the International Space Station since June, will now hitch a ride home aboard a Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025.
🚨 The drama began when Starliner's thrusters malfunctioned just 24 hours after liftoff, followed by multiple helium leaks. Despite being docked at the ISS for 79 days (and counting!), the crew remains safe—using their extended stay to conduct experiments alongside seven other astronauts.
💡 In a plot twist worthy of a sci-fi series, NASA officials confirmed: \"There was too much uncertainty in Starliner's thrusters,\" leading to the historic decision to deploy SpaceX as backup. This marks a major setback for Boeing, which has invested $1.6B+ in Starliner since 2016.
📉 Boeing's space woes come amid its aviation turbulence—from January's 737 MAX door incident to Starliner's 2019 uncrewed test failure. New CEO Kelly Ortberg now faces dual crises in the skies and space.
🌍 The ISS rescue mission highlights growing private space race dynamics, with Crew Dragon becoming NASA's go-to while Boeing plays catch-up. As one official put it: \"Safety always comes first—even if it means calling your rival.\"
