NASA has revealed that astronaut Sunita Williams, who launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in June aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, may be forced to extend her stay in orbit until as late as February 2025 if the vehicle remains unsafe for her return.
Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore became the first crew to fly on the troubled Starliner, which has experienced a series of technical problems with its propulsion system since docking at the ISS.
These issues have increasingly cast doubt on the spacecraft's ability to safely bring the astronauts back to earth as originally planned.
In a move that would represent a major setback for Boeing's space programme, NASA is now discussing plans to have SpaceX's Crew Dragon accommodate Williams and Wilmore on one of its upcoming missions.
NASA said on Wednesday (7) that astronauts delivered to the ISS could return on SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025.
This would involve leaving two seats empty on a Crew Dragon flight scheduled for February 2025, allowing the astronauts to return home if the Starliner remains grounded.
"We heard from a lot of folks that had concerns, and the decision was not clear," said Ken Bowersox, NASA's space operations chief, regarding the agency's deliberations on how to extract the Starliner crew.
The extended stay for Williams and Wilmore is a stark contrast to the initial eight-day mission they were expected to perform.
Boeing has expressed regret for suggesting the flight would be so brief, with a company executive admitting: "It's my regret that we didn't just say we're going to stay up there until we get everything done that we want to go do."
A Boeing spokesperson said that if NASA decides to change the Starliner mission, the company will take the necessary steps to configure the Starliner spacecraft for an uncrewed (without crew) return to earth.
According to experts, technical issues are common for experimental spaceflight missions.
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.