NASA has confirmed the successful return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to Earth without any crew onboard, following an extended stay at the International Space Station due to technical issues.
The announcement regarding the Starliner’s reentry came from NASA, highlighting the capsule’s journey after it had been stranded since June. Initially designed to carry astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the Starliner returned to Earth automatically after experiencing mechanical difficulties.
Launching from the International Space Station, the capsule made a safe landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule was initially launched on June 5 after two prior delays, marking its first attempt to transport NASA astronauts. Unfortunately, the mission faced challenges when a helium leak was detected, and despite thorough investigations, the source of the issue remained elusive, leading to four additional delays before the spacecraft could return.
NASA indicated that Wilmore and Williams will remain in orbit until February 2025, extending their originally scheduled one-week test mission into nearly eight months, due to the risks associated with returning the astronauts in the compromised capsule.