Two American astronauts who took off for a test mission expected to last a few days could end up spending eight months in space after a mechanical fault on their craft,
Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams flew to the International Space Station on June 5 on a Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
The test flight, the first with people on board, uncovered some problems including some of the craft’s thrusters stopping working and leaks in its propulsion system meaning it could be deemed unsafe for them to return in it.
Nasa officials told reporters on Wednesday thatno firm decisions had been made about what happens next.
Steve Stich, manager of Nasa's Commercial Crew Program, said it was the space agency’s “prime option” to bring the pair back on the Starliner.
He added: “However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.”
One plan being looked at would be for the pair to join up with a mission set to launch in September and return them to earth in February on board their SpaceX craft.
That would mean two crew members on that mission staying behind on earth so their places could be taken by Wilmore and Williams and computer control would be used to try to guide the Starliner back to earth safely.
Having to use the SpaceX craft would be seen as a blow to Boeing with the firms fierce rivals when it comes to spacecraft technology.
Earlier this week, Nasa used a SpaceX rocket to deliver food and extra clothing to the space station for the stranded astronauts.
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