After months of anticipation and safety evaluations, Boeing’s new astronaut capsule, Starliner, has departed the International Space Station (ISS) without astronauts on board. On Friday, the uncrewed capsule began its return journey to Earth, marking a significant moment in Boeing’s ongoing efforts to develop a reliable spacecraft for crewed missions.
Originally, NASA’s two test pilots were scheduled to return to Earth aboard Starliner. However, due to recent safety concerns, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, NASA decided it was too risky to include astronauts on this return flight. Instead, the capsule left the ISS with empty seats, blue spacesuits, and some old station equipment.
“She’s on her way home,” communicated astronaut Suni Williams after Starliner successfully undocked from the ISS. The separation maneuvers proceeded smoothly, ensuring a clean and safe departure from the station.
The return flight is expected to take approximately six hours, culminating in a planned nighttime landing in the New Mexico desert. Starliner is set to initiate its deorbit burn at 11:17 p.m. Eastern Time, with an expected landing at White Sands Space Harbor around 12:03 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday.
Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore were initially slated to fly back to Earth aboard Starliner in June, following a week-long mission. However, unforeseen technical issues extended their mission significantly. SpaceX is now scheduled to bring the astronauts back in late February 2025, turning what was initially planned as an eight-day mission into a stay of over eight months.
The success of Starliner’s return will be crucial for Boeing as it continues to develop the capsule for future crewed missions. The aerospace company aims to provide NASA with an additional means of transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, complementing SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.
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Boeing's Starliner capsule leaves ISS for Earth without astronauts
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