The fate of stranded Boeing Starliner crew remains uncertain as NASA and Boeing weigh the life-threatening risks of returning them on SpaceX's Crew Dragon or the faulty Starliner.
READ MORE: NASA said it needs at least another week to determine how long its stranded astronauts will be stuck in space because of Boeing's faulty space craft.
NASA officials said that one of their biggest concerns is that Starliner burns up in Earth's atmosphere as it tries to re-enter - which would incinerate anyone on board. The February 2025 plan involves attaching the astronauts to a mission that involves Elon Musk's Space X Dragon ship. Plus, the spacesuits that Williams and Wilmore traveled in on their way to the ISS would not be suitable on Crew Dragon, meaning that the astronauts would have to make the journey home unsuited, officials said.
NASA says there's a chance the Boeing's faulty Starliner could still return Williams and Wilmore to Earth, despite numerous technical issues with the spacecraft. 'We still believe in Starliner's capability and its flight rationale. If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return,' A Boeing spokesperson previously told DailyMail.com in an emailed statement.Officials said that that the fact that the astronauts can spend weeks on board the International Space Station means that they have time to try to address the technical issues with the spacecraft.
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