How will NASA rescue astronauts trapped on the International Space Station?

While Starliner remains docked, Wilmore and Williams are keeping busy. They have joined a station rotation with other astronauts on the ISS crew, which includes four members of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission and three from the Soyuz MS-25 mission, operated by the Russian-Kazakh Baikonur Cosmodrome.

“They’re as busy as any other crew out there,” Akaba said.

How do you know if Starliner is safe to return?

While project teams work with the available data, a broad review process is still underway to determine whether Starliner will return to Earth with Wilmore and Williams on board. At this point, NASA officials are still gathering data to guide the review process.

NASA is also conducting a flight readiness review, with participation from three independent technical agencies. Reviewers include members of the safety and mission assurance departments, NASA’s chief engineer, and the agency’s chief medical and health officer.

Once this analysis is complete, he will make recommendations to NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, Ken Bowersox, who with his teams will evaluate the feasibility of returning to Earth.