The return of the Boeing Starliner crew remains unclear as NASA and Boeing develop a strategy to bring the two astronauts home over two months after their arrival at the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams initially planned a short one-week mission in June, followed by their descent to Earth in a parachute-assisted landing. However, weeks later, NASA and Boeing are still trying to determine the best way to return them.

At a news conference on Wednesday, NASA officials noted that evaluations are ongoing to determine if the Starliner can safely make its return journey. Another option being considered is for Wilmore and Williams to come back to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, extending their stay until February.

A decision on this matter is anticipated by the end of August, officials from NASA stated.

“Deciding on having crew onboard for a Starliner return is a significant discussion,” Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, shared on Wednesday. “We have time before we bring Starliner back, and we intend to utilize that time efficiently.”

NASA officials prepare for another readiness review

The Starliner capsule was designed for regular crew and cargo transport to the station for NASA and remains the preferred means for Wilmore and Williams when they eventually return.

Nonetheless, NASA and Boeing have backup plans ready to ensure that both experienced astronauts, who have previously traveled to space, return safely one way or another.

Before even its launch on June 5 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the troubled Starliner faced numerous issues. Following Wilmore and Williams’ arrival at the International Space Station, engineers reported several helium leaks and concerns with the craft’s propulsion system, complicating Starliner’s return to Earth.

The increasing delays have raised doubts about Starliner’s capability to safely bring the NASA astronauts back, although Boeing maintains its confidence in the craft. There has been no mission update from Boeing since August 2.

Flight readiness reviews are a prerequisite for all NASA missions. In certain cases, NASA scientists might need to repeat this review process during a mission, as Bowersox explained on Wednesday.

This is currently underway as flight engineers analyze data from Starliner. Bowersox anticipates that the data review should conclude by the end of next week, followed by another flight readiness review the week after.

“Currently, Butch and Suni are fully engaged at the International Space Station,” Bowersox noted. “They’re making the most of their time there but are likely just as eager for a decision as the rest of us.”

SpaceX Crew-9 launch previously postponed

In the midst of efforts to reach a decision on Starliner, NASA previously decided to delay the SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

The Crew-9 mission was scheduled to launch on the upcoming Sunday for a routine trip to replace the Crew-8 team that has been at the International Space Station since March. However, the four Crew-9 astronauts can’t arrive until the docking port being used by Starliner becomes available, meaning the launch will occur no earlier than September 24, as confirmed by NASA.

To prevent any further delays, Starliner must undock by then, regardless of crew status. The number of astronauts heading to the International Space Station for the six-month Crew-9 mission will depend on whether Wilmore and Williams have returned.

Once the Starliner embarks on its journey, Wilmore and Williams will have to make arrangements to return home. If the Starliner departs without any crew, they would need to ride back on the Dragon spacecraft on February 25, after the Crew-9 team has finished their mission.

What is the status of the Boeing Starliner?

Following a series of delays lasting about a month, the Boeing Starliner finally took off on June 5, propelled by an Atlas V rocket.

This mission represented the inaugural crewed test of the spacecraft, which is designed to compete with SpaceX’s Elon Musk in providing regular transport to space for NASA. This partnership signifies a trend for the U.S. space agency in recent years, as it shifts to contracting private companies for missions that it previously undertook itself, aiming to reduce costs.

Ensuring that the Starliner is certified for these types of missions would give NASA a second viable spacecraft for transporting astronauts and cargo to the space station, after investing billions in developing vessels from both Boeing and SpaceX.

However, Boeing’s progress has fallen behind that of SpaceX, which has been successfully and consistently sending astronauts and supplies to the space station with its Dragon spacecraft since 2020. There were high hopes that a successful Starliner launch, especially the first manned test, would put Boeing back on track.

It remains unclear whether the Starliner could achieve certification for crewed missions if it returns without its astronauts on board.