Table of Contents
NASA has announced that Boeing’s Starliner capsule, currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS), will return to Earth without any astronauts on board. The undocking is scheduled for September 6, 2024 at 6:04 p.m. EDT, and the capsule is expected to land six hours later at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico. The mission is crucial because it marks the return of Starliner after its first-ever crewed mission, which launched on June 5.
The first manned mission
As emphasized in a reportThe Starliner capsule initially carried NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS for its first crewed flight. The mission, called the Crew Flight Test (CFT), was scheduled to last approximately ten days. However, problems arose during the flight, including helium leaks and the failure of five of the 28 reaction control system thrusters. Because of these complications, NASA and Boeing decided to extend the mission duration to thoroughly investigate the thruster failures and ensure the capsule’s safety for the return trip.
NASA’s decision for an unmanned return
After an in-depth analysis, NASA decided it was too risky to return the astronauts to the Starliner. Over the weekend, the agency announced that Williams and Wilmore would instead return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February of next year. NASA’s decision was driven by the potential risks posed by the booster problem, making an unmanned return the safer option.
The Starliner capsule will return completely autonomously, under the supervision of flight controllers at Starliner Mission Control in Houston and Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida.
Flight readiness and return process
Today’s update comes after a flight readiness review conducted jointly by NASA and Boeing. The review concluded that Starliner is prepared for its autonomous return to Earth. During descent, the spacecraft will be remotely controlled as needed to safely undock, re-enter and perform a parachute-assisted landing in the southwestern United States.
This is the third time Starliner has returned to Earth, following two previous unmanned test flights in December 2019 and May 2022.
Conclusion
While this mission has had its share of challenges, the upcoming unmanned return of the Starliner capsule will be closely watched as a major milestone in Boeing’s efforts to develop a reliable crewed spacecraft. The successful recovery of the capsule will pave the way for future missions and continued collaboration between NASA and Boeing to advance human space exploration.
