NASA could make decision on Boeing Starliner astronauts' return next week

NASA plans to hold an unprecedented agency-level readiness review as early as the end of next week to decide if Boeing's Starliner capsule can safely bring its two crew members back to Earth, a senior manager said Wednesday.

If so, Starliner commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams could undock from the International Space Station and head for home in early to mid-September, freeing up the lab's forward port for docking by the next long-duration SpaceX crew later in the month.

But if managers conclude earlier Starliner thruster issues and helium leaks pose an unacceptable risk, Wilmore and Williams will extend their stay on the station and come home next February aboard the Crew Dragon.