NASA Switches SpaceX Capsules to Bring Starliner Astronauts Home Sooner
NASA has made a change to its plans for an upcoming space mission to help two astronauts return home earlier than expected.
According to Reuters, the space agency decided to use a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule for its Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) instead of waiting for a new one that’s been delayed.
This switch allows the Crew-10 launch to happen on March 12, two weeks earlier than originally planned.
The change is important for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck on the ISS since last summer.
They flew there on Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which has faced technical issues. Their return depends on the arrival of the Crew-10 team, which will ensure the ISS has enough crew members to operate smoothly.
By reusing a SpaceX capsule, NASA is speeding up the process to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth. This decision highlights NASA’s flexibility in managing space missions and solving unexpected challenges.
The move shows how space agencies adapt to delays and technical problems to keep astronauts safe and missions on track.
This report is based on information from Reuters, a trusted news source.