Why the Starliner Astronauts Are Stuck in Space

What are the Starliner astronauts doing while in space for months longer than expected?

“A couple years ago, we made the decision—knowing that this was a test flight—to make sure that we had the right resources, supplies and training for the crew, just in case they needed to be on ISS, for whatever reason, for a longer period of time,” Dana Weigel, NASA’s manager of the International Space Station, said during an Aug. 7 press briefing.

The Starliner astronauts were serving as “extra hands” working aboard the ISS while they were up there, added NASA’s Bowersox. But, as guests and not official members of the ongoing seven-person Expedition 71, “they’re also using up more consumables, more supplies.”

So, he added, “At some point, we need to bring those folks home and get back to a normal crew size on the ISS.”

But in the meantime, Weigel said, “Butch and Suni are fully trained. They’re capable and current with EVA [extravehicular activity, a.k.a. spacewalks], with robotics, with all the things we need them to do.”

According to NASA briefings, they’ve been busy with station upkeep, inspecting hardware, organizing cargo and assisting with science experiments and tech demonstrations.