Without astronauts, Boeing’s Starliner returns to Earth
Late Friday evening, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft safely landed uncrewed in the New Mexico desert, concluding a three-month test mission that was marred by technical difficulties. The spacecraft autonomously undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 6:04 p.m. ET (2204 GMT), marking the start of a six-hour journey back to Earth.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were the first crew to fly aboard Starliner in June, remained on the ISS due to safety concerns. The maneuvering thrusters used during the descent were deemed too risky for crewed flights by NASA last month.
Starliner reentered Earth’s atmosphere around 11 p.m. ET at speeds of approximately 17,000 miles per hour (27,400 km/h). The spacecraft deployed parachutes and inflated airbags to slow its descent before touching down at White Sands Space Harbor. The landing proceeded smoothly, as confirmed by a NASA live stream.
Despite the successful return, the mission’s original goal was to serve as a final test before certifying Starliner for routine operations. However, the recent decision to exclude astronauts from the mission has cast uncertainty over the spacecraft’s certification process, even with its successful landing.
