Damaged Starliner Returns To Earth Successfully Without Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore

Boeing’s Starliner space capsule landed safely on Earth on Saturday after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS).

The capsule returned without the two NASA test pilots it carried when it launched in early June. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were expected to return on the Starliner, will remain on the ISS until February 2025 due to technical problems.

The Starliner touched down near White Sands Space Harbour, New Mexico, at 9:31 AM IST, completing a six-hour journey.

The capsule faced issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks, which led NASA to decide it was too risky for the astronauts to return on this flight. As a result, their stay on the ISS has been extended from eight days to eight months.

According to Dana Weigel, ISS manager, Williams and Wilmore are adjusting well and following exercise regimens to maintain their health in the weightless environment. They are scheduled to return in a SpaceX Crew Dragon in February 2025. SpaceX’s next launch at the end of September will now carry only two astronauts, making room for Williams and Wilmore.

The June 5, 2024, launch of the Starliner marked its first test flight with astronauts but encountered significant issues, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions.

NASA and Boeing will now conduct a comprehensive review to address these problems and advance commercial spaceflight capabilities.