Boeing Starliner to return earth on September 6 without astronauts
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore journeyed to space in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June this year.
Now, the space capsule is scheduled to return to Earth on September 7, but this time, without any crew on board. NASA decided that both astronauts would return next year using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, following concerns over faulty thrusters and multiple helium leaks detected in the Boeing spacecraft, which made it unsafe for crewed re-entry. They will remain active members of the Expedition 71/72 crew until February 2025.
According to NASA, the uncrewed Starliner will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 6:04 pm. EDT on September 6, which is 5:30 am. IST on September 7. The spacecraft is expected to land around 12:03 am. EDT on September 7.
The landing will be assisted by parachutes and airbags to ensure a safe touchdown. Recovery teams at the landing site will secure the capsule and prepare it for transport back to Boeing’s Starliner factory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
"The uncrewed Starliner spacecraft will perform a fully autonomous return, with flight controllers at Starliner Mission Control in Houston and Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida overseeing the mission. Ground teams can remotely command the spacecraft if necessary to ensure a safe undocking, re-entry, and parachute-assisted landing in the southwestern United States," in an official statement, NASA explained.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard the Starliner on June 5 as part of a mission to test the spacecraft's capabilities for commercial space travel. Originally, the mission was intended to last about eight days, but the return was delayed due to issues with the spacecraft's propulsion system. As a result, the astronauts have remained at the ISS.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the risks involved, stating, “Spaceflight is inherently risky, even under the safest and most routine conditions. A test flight is neither safe nor routine by nature. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed reflects our unwavering commitment to safety.”