The SpaceX crew Dragon is willing to bring back the Boeing Starliner two astronauts back home. This news is being received after a formal review was held a week ago. To make sure Boeing’s Starliner would be safe enough to travel back with its crew, or they would have to step in and save the day. 

The vehicle suffered setbacks after helium leaks and parts that suddenly stopped working on the initial leg of the first test flight. After weeks of trying to better understand the issues, as of August 2nd “confidence remains high” that the spacecraft would be able to return safely. 

However, NASA disclosed at a press conference on August 7 that internal debates about the safety of the Starliner capsule had progressed. As a result, the Space agency is now giving the idea of returning the astronauts home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon, which has completed roughly a dozen crewed space missions since 2020, more serious thought.

SpaceX is already scheduled to carry out a conventional crew rotation to the International Space Station, bringing four people on board the orbiting laboratory. But instead of having four astronauts on board, the mission, known as Crew-9, will now only have two. The other two positions will be filled by astronauts Williams and Wilmore on their way home.