Nasa says astronauts stuck in orbit to return with SpaceX crew in February, not on Boeing Starliner

Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore have been on the International Space Station since June 6

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore before liftoff en route to the International Space Station, on June 5, 2024 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Picture: Chris O’Meara/AP

Nasa has decided that the two astronauts currently stuck on the International Space Station will return next February on a SpaceX-crewed Dragon flight where two seats have been made available for Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore.

The astronauts will not return on the craft that brought them to the space station, Boeing’s Starliner, which has had problems after the capsule sprang small leaks and some of its thrusters failed.