NASA announced that Boeing will return its Starliner capsule from the International Space Station (ISS) without the astronauts it delivered in June.

Instead, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will stay on the ISS for six more months and return to Earth in February on SpaceX’s Crew-9 vehicle.

The decision to bring Starliner back empty marks a significant shift, as the capsule was originally intended to be the primary option for returning the crew.

However, ongoing issues with Starliner’s propulsion system led to concerns about its safety.

NASA and Boeing agreed to focus on resolving these issues before future crewed missions.

NASA officials emphasized that safety remains the top priority and expressed confidence that Starliner will eventually carry astronauts again, CNBC has reported.

Meanwhile, SpaceX will adjust its Crew-9 mission to accommodate the astronauts’ return.

Boeing’s setbacks in the Commercial Crew program, with over $1.5 billion in losses, continue to challenge its progress.

Written by B.C. Begley