Boeing Starliner to Return on September 6 without Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore
Nasa has announced that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which encountered technical issues after taking off on June 5 with astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, will depart the International Space Station on September 6, subject to weather conditions and technical readiness.
The capsule is expected to undock at 6:04 PM EDT and land in New Mexico six hours later if all goes as planned. The return follows a series of challenges faced by the spacecraft during its mission.
Boeing’s Starliner, on its first crewed mission, faced helium leaks and thruster failures, leading to the astronauts being stranded on the ISS. After Nasa confirmed the astronauts’ return on SpaceX Crew Dragon, the agency announced Starliner’s departure date.
Despite the setbacks, Nasa and Boeing extended the mission to address technical issues before the capsule’s return. The decision to return the astronauts on Crew Dragon was made to ensure their safety and address the spacecraft’s challenges.
Nasa officials stated that Williams and Wilmore are safe and prepared for the return journey. The astronauts will conduct science experiments aboard the ISS until their return early next year on Crew Dragon.
The decision to choose SpaceX for the return highlights the challenges faced by Boeing’s Starliner program. The return of the astronauts marks a significant milestone in the mission, emphasizing the importance of safety and successful space exploration endeavors.
