After an unexpectedly prospicient fourth dimension expend in orbit , the Boeing Starliner space vehicle has returned safely to Earth after three month . Although it was designed to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station ( ISS ) , the spacecraft returned home without crew following a problem with its pusher .
The Starliner landed in White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico just after midnight ET on September 7 , bring to an conclusion its first crew trial run flight . Its reentry through the atmosphere went to programme , and it execute a chute - serve landing in the desert that was cushioned with airbags . However , during the return flight , there were more small-scale matter with its thrusters , including two of the 27 chemical reaction control pusher getting hot than wait , and one thruster on the gang module that fail — although it was cover by a redundant pusher .
launch on June 5 impart two NASA astronauts , Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams , the spacecraft get an issue with its response control thruster on its outbound journeying when coming in to dock with the ISS . What was originally hypothesize to be an eight - daylight mission stretch out on for weeks while NASA and Boeing investigate the cause of the pusher issue . Eventually , NASA decided to keep the two spaceman on plug-in the space station and wreak the Starliner home uncrewed .
“ I am extremely majestic of the work our corporate team put into this entire flight test , and we are proud of to see Starliner ’s safe return , ” said Ken Bowersox , associate administrator of NASA ’s Space Operations Mission Directorate in astatement . “ Even though it was necessary to come back the space vehicle uncrewed , NASA and Boeing learn an unbelievable amount about Starliner in the most extreme environs possible . NASA see forrard to our keep on piece of work with the Boeing team to proceed toward enfranchisement of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the infinite station . ”
The spacecraft has not yet been licence for exercise by NASA — meaning that it has not yet been given the OK from NASA to regularly transport work party . NASA will now survey datum from the flight , but in a press conference , office representatives said that it had not yet decide whether another trial flight would be involve before certificate .
NASA has punctuate that , despite play with caution in choosing to keep the astronaut on the blank place , it does not deliberate the Starliner test flight of steps to be a unsuccessful person . The spaceman will stay on the space station play as veritable crew and joining theCrew-9 missionbefore traveling home with those cosmonaut in February 2025 in a SpaceX Dragon .
“ We are excited to have Starliner home safely . This was an important test flight for NASA in setting us up for future deputation on the Starliner system of rules , ” said Steve Stich , manager of NASA ’s Commercial Crew Program . “ There was a lot of worthful learning that will enable our tenacious - term winner . I need to commend the entire team for their hard work and dedication over the preceding three months . ”
