Boeing’s Starliner to Return Home Uncrewed After Extended Delay

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth on September 6, over 12 weeks later than originally planned and without the astronauts who initially flew aboard it. NASA announced that the spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) around 6 p.m. ET, contingent on weather and operational readiness. The uncrewed Starliner is expected to land shortly after midnight at a designated landing zone in New Mexico before being transported back to Boeing’s Starliner factory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

An empty Boeing Starliner is set to return next week, while its crew stays in space https://t.co/eQDLqIN5WP pic.twitter.com/n9T56MX7op

— WCMU News (@WCMUNews) August 30, 2024

Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who traveled to the ISS on Starliner in June, will remain aboard the station and are now set to return to Earth in February aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The decision to use SpaceX for their return came after several technical issues with Starliner, including problematic thruster behavior and helium leaks, which led to an extended assessment period by engineers.

Despite these setbacks, NASA stated that the Starliner will make the return journey autonomously. The spacecraft has successfully undocked and landed without a crew in two previous tests. Flight controllers from Starliner Mission Control in Houston and Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida will oversee the re-entry and landing operations. “Teams on the ground are able to remotely command the spacecraft if needed through the necessary maneuvers for a safe undocking, re-entry, and parachute-assisted landing in the southwest United States,” NASA explained.

Originally launched on June 5 for what was intended to be an eight-day mission at the ISS, the Starliner’s journey has been fraught with complications. The launch itself was successful, but soon afterward, issues arose, prompting NASA to conduct extensive testing to ensure the safety of Wilmore and Williams. The recent decision to bring them back aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon marks a significant blow to the Boeing Starliner program.

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will return from the International Space Station empty next week and make an autonomous landing, NASA said. #Boeing #Starliner #SunitaWilliams #NASAhttps://t.co/q8WWC9tElc

— Mashable India (@MashableIndia) August 30, 2024

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that safety remains the agency’s top priority. “Our core value is safety and it is our North Star,” he said, citing the tragic losses of two space shuttles and their crews in past missions as reminders of the importance of caution.

Boeing echoed this sentiment in a statement, affirming its commitment to safety. “We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return,” a Boeing spokesperson said.

Key Points:

i. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth on September 6, uncrewed and after a significant delay.

ii. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who flew to the ISS aboard Starliner, will now return to Earth in February on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

iii. Technical issues, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, prompted NASA to delay Starliner’s return and reassign the crew’s transportation.

iv. NASA and Boeing affirm that safety remains their top priority, overseeing the uncrewed Starliner’s return to Earth.

v. The decision underscores ongoing challenges for Boeing’s Starliner program and NASA’s emphasis on crew safety.

Kirk Volo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News