Boeing’s Starliner capsule successfully returned to Earth after nearly three months at the International Space Station (ISS), but without the NASA astronauts who initially piloted the spacecraft. The capsule landed safely at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on Saturday, marking the end of a mission that was intended to evaluate the spacecraft’s readiness for routine space travel.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who launched aboard the Starliner in June, were supposed to return with the spacecraft. However, several technical issues arose during the mission, prompting NASA to delay their return. Instead, they will remain aboard the ISS until early 2025, when they are expected to come home aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon capsule.
The Starliner’s landing occurred at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday, September 7, following a six-hour journey through space after undocking from the ISS at 6:04 p.m. the previous day. This marked a significant milestone in Boeing’s efforts to develop a spacecraft that can support routine crewed missions for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
During its descent, the Starliner had to navigate a critical reentry phase, enduring extreme heat and pressure as it passed through Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour. Parachutes were deployed to slow the capsule, followed by airbags that cushioned its final landing on the ground. This ground-based landing method, unique to Starliner, is seen as a potential advantage for spacecraft recovery and refurbishment.
Although Starliner has successfully completed multiple uncrewed missions, the vehicle encountered several challenges on this trip. Helium leaks and issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters initially raised concerns about its ability to reenter Earth’s atmosphere safely. Boeing and NASA engineers worked to resolve these problems, allowing the mission to continue but ultimately deciding that Wilmore and Williams should not return aboard Starliner.
Despite the technical setbacks, NASA and Boeing officials expressed confidence in Starliner’s performance during the return flight. Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, praised the spacecraft’s reentry and landing, noting that the vehicle had handled its mission almost flawlessly. However, he acknowledged that the decision to bring Starliner home without its crew was made out of an abundance of caution, given the risks involved.
This mission is part of Boeing’s broader efforts to become a key player in NASA’s space exploration plans. The company has invested heavily in the Starliner program, which is expected to eventually provide routine transport for astronauts to and from the ISS. However, the path forward remains uncertain. While Boeing has made progress, the spacecraft has faced multiple delays and technical challenges that have cost the company over a billion dollars in corrective measures.
As NASA and Boeing continue to assess the data from this recent mission, it remains to be seen whether Starliner will be certified for regular crewed flights or if further testing will be required.
