NASA’s August 2024 plan was for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return from the International Space Station with SpaceX’s Crew-9 in February 2025. They did not return then: Wilmore and Williams came home with Crew-9 on March 18, 2025. NASA described them as safe aboard the station—not stranded—after deciding that Boeing’s Starliner should return without its crew.
What NASA announced in August 2024
Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024, for NASA’s Crew Flight Test, arriving at the ISS the next day. After reviewing problems encountered during the flight, NASA announced on August 24 that Starliner would return to Earth uncrewed. The astronauts would stay on the station and join the planned Crew-9 return in February 2025. NASA’s FAQ on the return plan and its decision announcement describe that plan.
February was a forecast, not the eventual return date. Wilmore and Williams returned with Crew-9 on March 18, 2025, according to NASA’s mission report.
Why Starliner returned without its crew
During Starliner’s approach to the ISS, NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and issues with the spacecraft’s reaction-control thrusters. NASA said it reviewed spacecraft data, flight and ground testing, input from independent propulsion experts, and contingency plans before deciding how to proceed. It judged an uncrewed Starliner return and a later Crew-9 return for the astronauts to be the safer course; the cited announcements do not give a specific probability of failure.
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NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in the agency’s August 24, 2024, release: “Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine.”
Were Wilmore and Williams stranded?
No. NASA’s contemporaneous FAQ directly asked, “Are Butch and Suni stuck aboard the space station?” and answered, “No.” The astronauts remained aboard the ISS, working with the Expedition crew, while NASA arranged their return on Crew-9. Their stay was extended after a safety decision; NASA did not describe them as abandoned or facing an uncontrolled emergency.
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- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- BOEING CST-100 STARLINER – 1 Sheet Model with an easy difficulty level. Assembled Size: 1.97 (Diameter) x 2.17 H inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
Planned return versus what happened
| Event | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| NASA’s announced Crew-9 return plan | February 2025 | The target period announced in August 2024; it was a forecast, not the actual return date. |
| Starliner’s uncrewed landing | September 7, 2024 | The NASA Office of Inspector General’s 2024 retrospective gives this date for the landing at White Sands Space Harbor. |
| Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth | March 18, 2025 | The actual return with SpaceX Crew-9, reported by NASA. |
NASA’s August 29, 2024, update confirmed the teams were proceeding with Starliner’s uncrewed return. The Office of Inspector General’s retrospective is available in report IG-24-020.
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