Boeing’s beleaguered Starliner makes crewless return to Earth
Boeing’s Starliner completed its Crew Flight Test without its crew undocking Friday evening from the International Space Station and making the trip back to Earth.
The spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V back on June 5 with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams docking with the ISS the next day for what was supposed to be an eight-day visit.
Issues with failing thrusters and helium leaks on Starliner’s propulsion module, though, led to a series of delays and eventual call by NASA to keep its two astronauts safe on board the ISS and send Starliner home without them.
The #Starliner spacecraft is back on Earth.
At 12:01am ET Sept. 7, @BoeingSpace’s uncrewed Starliner spacecraft landed in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico. pic.twitter.com/vTYvgPONVc
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) September 7, 2024
Undocking occurred at 6:04 p.m. followed by about a six-hour trip back hitting a desert landing at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.