Boeing Starliner to Return Uncrewed, Astronauts Remain in Space

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft is set to return to Earth on September 7, 2024, but it will do so without NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore. The two astronauts had traveled to space aboard the Starliner in June 2024, but due to technical issues with the spacecraft, they will remain in the International Space Station (ISS) until next year.

The decision to send the Starliner back uncrewed was made after the spacecraft encountered problems, including faulty thrusters and helium leaks, creating concerns for the safety of the astronauts on board. NASA officials have determined that the risks prompted the need for this precautionary measure.

The Starliner is scheduled to undock from the ISS at 6:04 p.m. EDT on September 6, which corresponds to 5:30 AM IST on September 7. The spacecraft’s return is expected to take place around 12:03 AM on September 7, during which it will utilize parachutes and inflated airbags to ensure a safe landing in the southwest region of the United States.

Flight controllers at both Starliner Mission Control in Houston and the Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida will oversee the uncrewed return of the spacecraft. Although autonomous, ground teams will have the ability to remotely command the Starliner if necessary to execute safe undocking, re-entry, and landing procedures.

This mission, which aimed to evaluate the capabilities of the Starliner for commercial space travel, has been extended beyond its intended duration of eight days due to the spacecraft’s propulsion issues. The astronauts have been stationed at the ISS since the spacecraft’s initial launch.

Navigating the complexities of space travel, NASA administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the inherent risks involved in spaceflight. He reiterated that the decision to keep both astronauts aboard the ISS while sending the Starliner back uncrewed is a testament to a dedication to safety in aerospace missions.