> the alternative that is being considered (and that SpaceX was already paid $266,678 to study, though that contract was not necessarily awarded because of this

> the alternative that is being considered (and that SpaceX was already paid $266,678 to study, though that contract was not necessarily awarded because of this situation where it might become necessary) is bringing them home on the dragon already up there. It's a little more nuanced than that. If NASA decides to bring the Astronauts home on a Crew Dragon, there will be a short window of time between when Starliner undocks and when the next Crew Dragon docks that there will be 6 International Astronauts on the ISS and only 4 seats. If an emergency happens during that time, NASA would jerry-rig some extra seats in the existing Crew Dragon and bring all 6 home that way. But that's a very short period of time - just a couple of weeks. The next Crew Dragon will only have 2 Astronauts aboard, and will contain suits for Butch and Sunny, so that all 4 of them can return normally on that vehicle at the end of the next rotation.