NASA is working on ways to bring astronauts home

NASA says a decision is imminent on whether two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station can come home soon or will have to wait until February.

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore should know by next week whether they should pack their bags and return home or settle in for a few more months in zero gravity in space.

The couple had been floating in weightlessness since June, when they arrived at the International Space Station for a planned stay of about a week.

RELATED STORY | NASA has not yet announced a date for the return of the astronauts and the malfunctioning Boeing capsule to the space station

But their visit has already dragged on for more than two months. Their Boeing Starliner spacecraft has suffered multiple helium leaks and engine failures. NASA is trying to determine whether Starliner is safe to return home.

“We’re trying to make sure we fully understand the unknown before we make a final decision. And fortunately, the space station gives us the opportunity to take our time and understand it as best we can,” said Emily Nelson, chief flight director of NASA’s flight operations.

If Starliner cannot complete the mission, NASA will use a SpaceX capsule to bring the astronauts home, but that would delay their return until February – eight months after their launch.

NASA says it does not want to rush the decision and is aware of past failures in the agency’s safety culture that have led to tragedies such as the loss of the Columbia and Challenger astronauts.

“Unfortunately, if you look at both Challenger and Columbia, you know there are cases where people could have put forward the right data or a valid position, but the environment just didn’t allow it,” said Russ DeLoach, director of NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance.

According to NASA, whatever decision is made, Williams and Wilmore are happy about the extra time in space – even if the mission takes much longer than expected.