Empty Boeing's Starliner spacecraft – switched to autonomous mode, i.e. without a pilot – is to separate from the International Space Station after midnight Polish time. The return flight is to last six hours. The ship is planned to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on Saturday after 6 a.m. Polish time.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williamswho were originally scheduled to be aboard the returning spacecraft, will ultimately return to Earth in February 2025 aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. NASA says both are in “good spirits” and in regular contact with their families.
– They understand how important it is to move on and enable the safe return of the ship – said Steve Stich of NASA, emphasizing that the astronauts are “passionate about their work”.
Starliner returns to Earth without crew, astronauts will remain in space
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft experienced problems on June 5, shortly after takeoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was the first test flight with astronauts on board.
Boeing and NASA engineers spent months trying to understand what had happened, and in late August they finally did. Starliner was deemed not to be safe enoughto take the astronauts home.
The need to postpone the operation until February 2025 also results from the plan using the competing SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. The extra time is to allow the company to launch another capsule – its launch is scheduled for the end of September. It was originally supposed to carry four astronauts, but instead two will go into space. This will mean that there will be two open spots for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
Dana Weigel, director of the International Space Station, said that astronauts They adapted well to the “extended mission”. They both spent a lot of time in space before, they also have all the necessary equipmentneeded for their “unplanned eight-month stay.”
Boeing's Problems: 'I'm Confident It Will Fly Again'
– After the ship returns, we will conduct analyses for several months – emphasized Steve Stich. – We will consider what to do to make the ship fully operational in the future – he added.
In 2014 Boeing, SpaceX awarded commercial flights for NASA astronauts. SpaceX has sent nine crews to space so far, and has also conducted several commercial missions. For Boeing, this was its first attempt at a manned mission.
Boeing's Starliner launch was delayed for several years due to “spacecraft development failures”and the company’s two previous uncrewed flights in 2019 and 2022 also encountered difficulties.
NASA Administrator, American Politician Bill Nelsonemphasized that “is 100 percent certain that Starliner will fly again with a crew on board”.