Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, returned to Earth empty and significantly later than originally planned. The spacecraft, which had been scheduled to bring two astronauts back to Earth, departed the ISS at 6:04 p.m. ET and landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.
NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were aboard the Starliner in June, will remain on the ISS for the remainder of the year and are slated to return to Earth in February aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
The undocking procedure for Starliner was modified from the typical crewed approach to ensure the safety of the ISS, as the spacecraft was uncrewed and lacked manual control capabilities in case of issues. NASA officials stated that this adaptation was necessary due to the absence of astronauts onboard.
“This mission has been challenging, but we’re committed to bringing the Starliner back safely,” said Williams to NASA mission controllers before undocking. “Good luck, and we’ll see you when we return.”
The Starliner mission, named “Calypso,” ended up lasting about three months—much longer than the anticipated nine-day duration—due to ongoing investigations into the spacecraft’s propulsion system. Boeing had faced multiple delays in returning Starliner, citing the need for additional data on propulsion issues.
Originally intended as a key test flight for Boeing’s involvement in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Starliner’s prolonged mission and subsequent empty return could impact Boeing’s future role in the program. With over $1.5 billion in losses already incurred, the setbacks may affect Boeing’s ability to compete alongside SpaceX for ISS missions.
The decision to return Starliner empty reflects NASA’s commitment to ensuring safety and thoroughly understanding the spacecraft’s performance issues, highlighting ongoing challenges in the development and testing of new space technologies.
