NASA bumps two astronauts to rescue Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from ISS

Nasa announced on Friday that it will remove two astronauts from an upcoming SpaceX flight to make space for two astronauts currently stranded at the International Space Station (ISS). Nasa astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson will be removed from the mission but are expected to join future missions. This decision was made considering factors such as spaceflight experience.

Nasa’s Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are set to launch aboard a SpaceX rocket to the ISS in September. They will return in February with the astronauts stranded at the ISS, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Williams and Wilmore had originally embarked on a one-week mission aboard Boeing's Starliner since June. However, due to technical problems like helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, their stay on the ISS has been extended.


The Boeing Starliner capsule that took Williams and Wilmore to the ISS is expected to return empty as early as next Friday. The capsule aims to land in the New Mexico desert.