NASA is preparing a backup plan to ensure astronauts Barry ?Butch? Wilmore and Sunita ?Suni? Williams return safely to Earth. They were initially launched to space aboard Boeing?s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The astronauts have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 6, 2024. Due to technical issues with the Starliner, NASA is now considering an alternative plan. If Boeing?s Starliner is deemed unsafe, SpaceX?s Crew-9 mission could return the astronauts in February 2025. This would be a critical decision as it would underscore NASA?s reliance on SpaceX for astronaut transportation.