WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 NASA's leadership is studying the possibility of returning the Starliner spacecraft to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) empty, and returning the crew from the station on the Crew Dragon spacecraft from SpaceX; there is no final decision on this issue yet, the TV channel reports. CNBC, citing a source familiar with the matter.
«This week, NASA is discussing the possibility of returning the Starliner spacecraft empty, so that its crew can return on the Crew Dragon spacecraft,» the publication writes, citing an informed source, according to whom there is no consensus on this matter within the department yet, since many factors must be taken into account when deciding whether to return the crew. 
Built by Boeing under a contract with NASA, the Starliner spacecraft launched on its first manned flight with NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams on June 5, 2024. After about 26 hours, the ship arrived at the ISS, and, despite technical problems, successfully docked to it. Starliner's mission to the station was originally planned to last about a week. However, due to problems identified during docking with the station, the ship and its crew still remain on the ISS. NASA and Boeing specialists are trying to find out the causes and eliminate problems with the ship’s engine and the helium leak detected on it, but so far their efforts have not been crowned with success.
At the end of July, NASA announced that it had not yet determined the return date of Starliner, while experts received permission to formally extend the life of the spacecraft's battery to 90 days. According to the head of NASA's manned program, if necessary, the ship can remain in orbit until early September. Officially, both NASA and Boeing have taken the position that the return of the crew on Starliner is a priority, but have not ruled out the possibility of Wilmore and Williams returning on Crew Dragon if necessary.