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Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft made a successful landing back on Earth early Saturday morning, marking a significant moment in its long and troubled journey. However, this flight returned without a crew, leaving two test pilots still aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to NASA’s assessment that their return was too risky at this time.
Starliner parachuted into New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range at 12:01 a.m. ET, six hours after departing from the ISS. The flight is part of Boeing’s ongoing efforts to develop a reliable crewed space transport system for NASA.
“I am extremely proud of the work our collective team put into this entire flight test, and we are pleased to see Starliner’s safe return,” said Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate. He added, “Even though it was necessary to return the spacecraft uncrewed, NASA and Boeing learned an incredible amount about Starliner in the most extreme environment possible.”
Despite the challenges faced during the Starliner mission, Bowersox expressed optimism for future endeavors, stating that NASA looks forward to working with Boeing towards certifying Starliner for crew rotation missions to the ISS.
Recent Challenges and Delays
This uncrewed return follows the June launch of Boeing’s long-awaited crew debut, a mission that encountered multiple issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks. The planned return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams faced numerous uncertainties after engineers struggled to identify the spacecraft’s malfunctions.
Boeing had claimed that Starliner was safe for crew return after extensive testing; however, NASA disagreed. Instead, they opted to send SpaceX to retrieve the astronauts, who will remain aboard the ISS until at least February while awaiting a SpaceX launch scheduled for later this month.
Technical Issues and Safety Concerns
Wilmore and Williams had initially expected to return on Starliner shortly after its launch. However, complications including thruster system failures and helium leaks forced NASA to conclude that a return on Starliner would be too dangerous.
Updated software allowed the automated capsule to depart with the crew’s blue spacesuits and some equipment from the ISS. The Starliner crew demo has been marred by delays and setbacks, continuing a trend seen since NASA selected Boeing and SpaceX for orbital transport services following the retirement of the space shuttles.
Boeing’s previous test flight in 2019 also faced significant problems, leading to further scrutiny of the spacecraft’s safety protocols. This mission ultimately cost more than $1 billion to address all necessary repairs.
Future of Starliner and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
SpaceX’s upcoming crew ferry flight will mark the tenth such mission for NASA since 2020. The Dragon capsule will undertake a six-month mission carrying only two astronauts, as two seats are needed to bring Wilmore and Williams home.
Before its launch in June, Starliners’s propulsion system experienced a helium leak, which was initially thought to be isolated. Unfortunately, four additional leaks were discovered after liftoff, resulting in the failure of five thrusters during the flight. Although four of these thrusters were subsequently recovered, the issues raised critical concerns regarding Starliner’s ability to safely land.
NASA’s Commitment to Safety and Reliability
Flight controllers conducted additional thruster tests post-undocking, with one thruster failing to ignite. Engineers suspect that thruster overheating may obstruct propellant flow due to expanded seals, compromising descent safety. Unfortunately, the components cannot be examined, as they were discarded prior to reentry.
Boeing’s progress will be analyzed in detail, as they prepare for the next phases of the Starliner program. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, stated, “I want to recognize the work the Starliner teams did to ensure a successful and safe undocking, deorbit, re-entry and landing.”
Looking ahead, NASA remains committed to maintaining two operational U.S. companies for astronaut transport. This strategy aims to ensure that both SpaceX and Boeing can share responsibilities until the ISS’s retirement planned for 2030.
The Road Ahead for Boeing’s Starliner
In closing, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, emphasized the importance of this flight test for shaping future missions involving the Starliner system. His sentiments highlight a journey filled with learning opportunities that will ensure long-term success for crewed space travel.
As the aerospace community analyzes the data from this latest mission, the focus on safety and innovation remains paramount in the quest to reclaim human presence in space.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
