Two people removed from SpaceX flight due to stranded astronauts on space station.

On Friday, NASA made the decision to remove two astronauts from the upcoming crew in order to accommodate the two individuals currently stuck at the International Space Station. Nick Hague from NASA and Aleksandr Gorbunov from Russia will now be launching in September on a SpaceX rocket to reach the orbiting laboratory. They will then make the return journey in February alongside current space station residents Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.

This change in plans was prompted by concerns about the safety of Williams and Wilmore traveling home in their Boeing Starliner capsule. The spacecraft has been experiencing issues with its thrusters and helium leaks, making NASA hesitant to use it for this important return trip. Unfortunately, this also means that two other NASA astronauts, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, will no longer be able to join the SpaceX flight. However, NASA has assured them that they will have the opportunity to fly on future missions.

When making this decision, NASA took into consideration various factors including the astronauts' experience in spaceflight. Since the retirement of the space shuttles, the US has relied on Russia to transport astronauts to and from the space station. However, with the development of SpaceX's capabilities, the two countries have been able to trade seats on the spacecraft. Next month, NASA's Don Pettit will be launching to the space station while Tracy Dyson will be returning to Earth on a Russian capsule.

In an effort to reduce their dependence on other countries for space travel, NASA turned to private businesses ten years ago with the goal of having two competing US companies capable of transporting astronauts. Williams and Wilmore were the first crew from Boeing to reach the space station in June, with plans for a week-long stay. However, due to the current situation, their capsule will now be returning empty as early as next Friday, aiming for a touchdown in the New Mexico desert.

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