Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully returned to Earth after a turbulent summer. The capsule undocked from the ISS without astronauts on board and landed safely in New Mexico. The return journey was bittersweet for Boeing, as it showed that the spacecraft could have safely brought astronauts home, but thruster issues led NASA to call on SpaceX for the return flight instead.
Starliner had originally launched NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS in early June for a mission expected to last eight days. However, it remained at the space station for months due to thruster and helium issues detected after launch. NASA determined that it was too risky for Starliner to return with crew, so the astronauts will return on a SpaceX capsule in February.
The return journey marked the end of a tumultuous period for Boeing and NASA, as the Starliner program had already faced setbacks. The test flight was meant to demonstrate the spacecraft’s ability to transport astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit, but issues with thrusters and leaking helium caused delays and additional costs. Despite these challenges, Boeing will continue to work towards certifying Starliner for regular trips to the space station.
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