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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.

 

Boeing Starliner Returns to Earth Empty, Delayed by Months

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Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, returned to Earth without the astronauts it initially delivered, months later than planned. Originally scheduled to depart earlier, the mission was extended due to issues with the capsule’s propulsion system. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were expected to return on Starliner, will instead remain at the ISS until February, when they will return aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.

Starliner left the ISS at 6:04 p.m. ET and touched down at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday. The undocking process was adjusted to account for the absence of crew members, who would normally handle manual control if needed.

The spacecraft’s extended stay at the ISS, lasting approximately three months instead of the planned nine days, was due to ongoing investigations into the propulsion issues. Although Boeing assured that Starliner was safe for an emergency return, NASA decided to send the spacecraft back empty to better understand the root causes of its problems.

This delay has hindered Boeing’s progress in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, a critical initiative aimed at having multiple companies, including Boeing and SpaceX, capable of rotating missions to the ISS. The delays and additional costs, now exceeding $1.5 billion, could jeopardize Boeing’s future participation in the program.

James Webb Space Telescope Findings Redefine Theories on Asteroid Psyche’s Origins

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James Webb Space Telescope’s Discovery of Hydrated Minerals on Asteroid Psyche Questions Protoplanet Core Theory Devamını Oku