NASA announced on Thursday that it will decide this weekend whether Boeing’s new Starliner capsule is safe enough to return two astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS). The decision will be made by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other senior officials during a meeting on Saturday. An update is expected from Houston once the meeting concludes.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on 5th June as part of a test flight. Unfortunately, the mission quickly encountered serious problems, including thruster failures and helium leaks. These issues were significant enough that NASA decided to keep the capsule docked at the ISS while engineers assessed the situation and explored potential solutions.

Given the problems with the Starliner, NASA faces a critical decision. If the Starliner is deemed unsafe for return, SpaceX could be asked to retrieve the astronauts. This alternative would mean that Wilmore and Williams would remain aboard the ISS until February next year. In this scenario, the Starliner would return to Earth empty in September, as planned.

NASA’s decision will hinge on whether the engineers can resolve the current issues with the Starliner and ensure it is safe for re-entry and landing. The outcome of the meeting will determine how soon the astronauts can return to Earth and what steps will be taken to address the capsule’s technical problems.

The decision is crucial not only for the astronauts’ return but also for Boeing’s ongoing partnership with NASA. It will also influence future missions and the overall reliability of the Starliner capsule. The update from NASA will provide clarity on how the space agency plans to proceed with this mission.

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If NASA decides the Starliner is unsafe, SpaceX could be tasked with retrieving the astronauts, though this would delay their return until next February. Should this happen, the Starliner would return to Earth empty in September.