our core value is safety and it is our nor in a move that underscores NASA's unwavering commitment to safety the space agency has unveiled a bold plan to bring home two astronauts currently stranded on the International Space Station ISS on August 24th NASA administrator Bill Nelson held a press conference to announce the rescue mission which will see astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams return to Earth aboard a SpaceX crew Dragon capsule of February 2025 this Mission however is far from ordinary Butch and Sun's Journey to the ISS began on June 5th when they embarked on what was supposed to be a groundbreaking test flight aboard Boeing Starliner capsule the mission was initially planned to last just eight days but things quickly went Ary the Starliner encountered serious technical issues including Thruster failures and helium leaks forcing NASA to make the difficult decision to extend the astronauts stay on the ISS inde definely while evaluating their options despite these setbacks the astronauts successfully docked at the ISS showcasing their resilience and training but the question loomed how would NASA bring back to Earth safely the answer it seems lies of NASA's trusted partnership with SpaceX as Nelson revealed the crew Dragon capsule designed and operated by Elon Musk SpaceX will be making its routine Journey to the ISS September carrying four astronauts but this time it will leave two seats empty those seats are reserved for Butch and Sunni who will finally return home in early 2025 after what will have been an unexpectedly extended mission in space NASA's decision to use crew dragon is a testament to the space agency's rigorous focus on safety our core value is safety and it is our Northstar stated during the press conference this mission is about more than just bringing the astronauts home it's about ensuring their safe return no matter the obstacles but what of the Starliner the spacecraft That was supposed to Mark a new era in space travel NASA has decided that the Starliner will return to Earth without a crew allowing Boeing to take the time to thoroughly investigate and address the technical issues that marred this Mission Nelson emphasized the importance of this decision noting Boeing has worked very hard with NASA to gather the necessary data to make this decision we want to fully understand the root causes in Implement design Improvement so the Starliner can play a crucial role in our assured crew access to the ISS e the decision to keep Butch and Sunni aboard the ISS longer than anticipated has not only tested the astronauts endurance but also showcased their dedication to the mission earlier this month the families of both astronauts spoke out about how they are coping with the Extended Stay Sun's husband Michael Williams shared with the Wall Street Journal that his wife is far from disappointed in fact he described the ISS her happy place where she is thriving even in the face of uncertainty meanwhile Butch's wife di Wilmore shared with Knoxville's wvlt TV station that the family's taking the delay and stride she mentioned that they didn't expect Butch back until February or March and that he remains calm and composed trusting that the Lord's in control of the situation this unexpected twist in the mission has turned what was supposed to be a routine test flight into a dramatic and high stakes rescue operation it's a stark reminder of the inherent risk of space exploration and the unpredictable challenges that astronauts face yet it also highlights the extraordinary capabilities and determination of the men and women who Venture into space as well as the cuttingedge technology and collabor a that makes their missions possible as NASA and Boeing work to fix the starliners issues and as SpaceX prepares for the crucial task of bringing Butch and Sunni back home this Mission will undoubtedly go down in history as a testament to human resilience Innovation and the Relentless pursuit of safety in the most extreme conditions so as we await their safe return let's take a moment to appreciate The Bravery of these astronauts and the dedication of the teams working tirelessly to bring them back to Earth after all in space exploration the mission isn't over until every astronaut is home safe and sound