NASA managers will play it safe and wait until February to bring home a pair of astronauts stranded on the International Space Station.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says they will attempt to undock the Boeing-built Starliner capsule from the space station and fly it uncrewed for a landing in New Mexico.
The test flight of Starliner has been plagued by helium leaks and thruster issues since its launch in June.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Baystate resident Suni Williams will come home on a SpaceX capsule that will now launch with a smaller crew next month.
(Photo by MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP / Getty Images