NASA Says Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft Could Return by Late Next Week, Without Astronauts
After NASA said it was too risky to bring two astronauts back from the International Space Station, the capsule will be undocked an flown to Earth remotely.
BY REUTERS
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore take their historic ride on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner as it makes its first human spaceflight on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Space Launch Complex 41.. Photo: Getty Images
NASA will proceed with the undocking of the uncrewed Boeing Starliner capsule not before Sept. 6, the space agency said on Thursday after concluding a review.
Last week, the space agency said its two astronauts who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in the Starliner in June will return to Earth in a SpaceX vehicle early next year.
Starliner’s propulsion system issues were deemed too risky for crewed return after the capsule experienced a series of glitches within the first 24 hours of its flight to the ISS.
The journey back to Earth for the Starliner is expected to take approximately six hours from undocking to landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, NASA said in a blog post.
Ground teams will remotely guide the spacecraft through necessary maneuvers for a safe undocking, re-entry and parachute-assisted landing in southwestern United States.
Starliner has previously completed a successful uncrewed entry and landing during two orbital flight tests, the agency said.
Reporting by Urvi Dugar; Editing by Tasim Zahid.
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