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SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to return Boeing Starliner crew to Earth


The fate of two NASA astronauts — who have been in limbo aboard the International Space Station for about 80 days — is now clear.

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will bring home two NASA astronauts who have remained on board the International Space Station for about 80 days because of issues plaguing the Boeing Starliner spacecraft — marking a stunning turn of events for the beleaguered aerospace giant. The Starliner vehicle, which carried astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the space station in early June, suffered setbacks with helium leaks and thrusters that abruptly stopped working on the initial leg of its first crewed test flight. Separately, issues with helium leaks may be the result of seals that have become degraded because of exposure to propellant vapor, according to comments from Mark Nappi, Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program manager, on July 25.

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