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Starliner Successfully Returns, NASA Astronauts Remain in Orbit

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has successfully completed its return journey, landing safely in New Mexico. However, two NASA astronauts who had traveled aboard Starliner to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, continue to remain in orbit, extending their mission for an additional five months before their return.

The decision to keep Williams and Wilmore in space arose due to complications encountered with Starliner’s propulsion system during its approach to the ISS in June. Given these issues, NASA officials opted not to have the astronauts return on Starliner. Instead, they are set to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX spacecraft, anticipated around February.

Starliner’s undocking and landing were executed smoothly, affirming statements from Boeing that reassured the spacecraft’s safety protocols. The capsule touched down at White Sands Space Harbor at 12:01 AM Eastern Time on Saturday, marking a critical milestone for Boeing as they work toward resolving earlier mission difficulties.

“It would have been a safe, successful landing with the crew on board,” remarked Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s commercial crew program, in a post-landing news conference.

Despite the successful landing, the series of challenges faced during this mission has put Boeing under scrutiny. The company now finds itself in a precarious position regarding its investment in the Starliner program’s future. During the news conference, Stich referred to the next mission as Starliner-1, which marks the first operational flight set for NASA certification to transport four crew members to and from the ISS.

Boeing has initiated engineering assessments to address issues, particularly the overheating observed in the thrusters. Stich emphasized that critical work had already begun to determine necessary adjustments ahead of the next flight, with a focus on analyzing data from this test flight to formulate a comprehensive plan moving forward.

Initially, two high-ranking Boeing officials were expected to join the news conference, but they chose to allow NASA representatives to speak on behalf of the mission. Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s space operations mission directorate, acknowledged Boeing’s ongoing contributions to the ISS and various space exploration programs, expressing confidence in Boeing’s commitment to support all current projects.

Prior to undocking, Suni Williams, who affectionately named this Starliner “Calypso,” expressed gratitude to the mission control team, urging them as the spacecraft prepared to return home. Flight Director Chloe Mehring reciprocated Williams’ acknowledgment, commending the dedication of the ground teams who supported this mission over the years.

The return journey commenced as Starliner retracted its hooks that secured it to the ISS, propelled away from the docking port at approximately 260 miles above central China. A controlled series of thruster firings gradually positioned Starliner to reenter the atmosphere.

Starliner, designated for a test flight, faced significant challenges during its role of carrying astronauts to and from the ISS. During its earlier phases, the spacecraft encountered issues with its propulsion system, including thruster failures and helium leaks. Although Starliner ultimately docked, NASA determined that safety warranted a crew-free return.

As Starliner approached atmospheric reentry, it executed test firings of 12 thrusters, with only one unresponsive unit. Fortunately, backup systems ensured that the mission proceeded without incident. The control team successfully manipulated the thrusters on the service module, allowing for a controlled descent.

Starliner’s controlled descent culminated in a landing in the Chihuahuan Desert, witnessed by residents across New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico, who captured the moment on social media. The spacecraft descended under parabolic deployment of three parachutes, with airbags cushioning its final impact.

With the Starliner mission concluded, Williams and Wilmore are now officially part of Expedition 72 aboard the ISS, alongside other crew members. This month, NASA will send two additional astronauts, Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, to join them via a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

For Williams and Wilmore, returning home next year entails adjusting crew allocations, as previous Expedition 72 astronauts were reassigned to accommodate the upcoming Crew-9 mission.

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