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Boeing’s Starliner Returns to Earth Uncrewed After Technical Issues Delay Astronauts’ Return

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Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft landed safely in New Mexico late Friday, concluding a three-month uncrewed test mission marked by technical challenges. Originally intended as the spacecraft’s final test before NASA certification, the mission was disrupted when faulty thrusters led NASA to deem the Starliner unsafe for crew return. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the first crew to fly Starliner, remain on the International Space Station (ISS) and are expected to return on a SpaceX vehicle in early 2025. The spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere and landed smoothly using parachutes and airbags. Despite the successful landing, the thruster failures have raised concerns about Boeing’s future in space, particularly in light of ongoing competition from SpaceX. Boeing is conducting further investigations into the cause of the failures, which have already cost the company $125 million, adding to $1.6 billion in cost overruns since 2016.

 

Astronauts’ Eight-Day Mission Turns into Potential Year-Long Stay on ISS

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What was intended to be an eight-day mission for American astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams has unexpectedly turned into an indefinite stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The pair, who launched on June 5, are still in space nearly two months later due to issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was meant to return them to Earth.

The Starliner, on its first crewed test flight, encountered leaks in its propulsion system and thruster malfunctions as it approached the ISS. Although the spacecraft safely docked, these problems have left NASA uncertain about its reliability for the return trip. As a result, Wilmore and Williams could remain in space until February 2025, joining a scheduled SpaceX Crew Dragon mission back to Earth.

NASA officials have yet to make a final decision, but they are considering the possibility of sending the astronauts home aboard the Crew Dragon, which would extend their stay to more than eight months. If this plan proceeds, the Starliner would return to Earth uncrewed, under computer control—a significant setback for Boeing, which is competing with SpaceX in the commercial space sector.

In the meantime, the astronauts have integrated into the ISS crew and continue their work, despite the unexpected extension of their mission. Wilmore and Williams have expressed confidence in the Starliner and have remained positive about their extended time in space. The situation, however, raises questions about the future of Boeing’s space program and the challenges of space travel.