NASA will announce on Saturday whether the two astronauts who traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth using a SpaceX vehicle.
NASA said on Thursday that the decision will follow an agency-level review, expected no earlier than August 24.
The Starliner capsule launched its first crewed mission in June. The mission was supposed to last eight days before Starliner could get NASA’s approval for regular flights. However, the mission has been delayed due to technical issues, including leaks and thruster failures, raising concerns about the spacecraft’s reliability.
NASA’s decision will determine if the astronauts can safely return using Starliner or if an alternative solution is needed.