Boeing’s Starliner capsule returned to Earth on Saturday after a challenging uncrewed test mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, initially intended to include astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry E. Wilmore, was marred by technical malfunctions, forcing NASA to delay its crewed certification.
The capsule, shaped like a gumdrop, landed smoothly at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 0401 GMT (9:30 am IST), its descent cushioned by parachutes and airbags. Having departed the ISS six hours earlier, the spacecraft endured temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius) during reentry, producing sonic booms as it streaked across the sky.
Originally launched in June 2024 for a weeklong test mission, the Starliner experienced thruster malfunctions and helium leaks during ascent, resulting in NASA’s decision to return the astronauts to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. The astronauts’ return is now scheduled for February 2025.
#Starliner's entry cover has been closed and secured for entry.
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) September 7, 2024
Teams continue to target ~12am ET Sept. 7 landing in New Mexico.
Live landing coverage resumes at 10:50pm ET on https://t.co/cFkhytEeVJ
Boeing, still reeling from setbacks in its aviation division, had hoped this mission would restore confidence in its space program. However, ongoing issues and tense discussions with NASA led the space agency to doubt the thruster degradation model Boeing had developed.
While Boeing has made progress since Starliner’s troubled debut in 2019, including addressing software glitches and faulty hardware, NASA’s thorough review of the recent test will determine whether the capsule is ready to be certified for crewed missions. Starliner’s future now depends on the success of this critical review.
Boeing and SpaceX were awarded contracts by NASA to develop crew transport spacecraft following the end of the Space Shuttle program. While SpaceX has excelled in this role, flying astronauts since 2020, Boeing’s Starliner has been plagued by delays, including a 2019 failure to dock with the ISS due to a software issue and a 2021 launchpad postponement caused by blocked valves.
Resources- NASA Commercial Crew
@Commercial_Crew
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