Two NASA astronauts are set to return to Earth following a nine-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS) due to an issue with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. These astronauts have been on the ISS since June, after an unexpected malfunction occurred during the Starliner's maiden crewed voyage. To facilitate their return, SpaceX's Dragon Crew-10 recently arrived at the ISS, turning what was initially a standard crew rotation mission into a critical operation to bring back the stranded astronauts.
The Boeing Starliner, intended to be a consistent vehicle for crewed space travel, faced setbacks that forced NASA to delay its plan for the spacecraft. Despite extensive testing, the initial crewed mission of the Starliner encountered issues, postponing its deployment and necessitating assistance from SpaceX. The SpaceX Dragon capsule's timely arrival ensures the astronauts' safe return, as NASA navigates the technical hurdles posed by the Starliner mission.