Boeing's Starliner Returns to Earth Without Crew Amidst Ongoing Challenges

Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft has completed its return from the international Space Station (ISS) without the astronauts, sunita williams and Barry E. Wilmore, who were initially planned to be aboard. The capsule, which landed safely at White Sands Space Harbor in New mexico at approximately 0401 GMT (9:30 am), had left the ISS around six hours earlier. Its descent was gently managed by parachutes and airbags.

Originally, this mission, launched in June, was intended to be a week-long test run before Starliner could be certified for crew transport. However, due to unexpected thruster malfunctions and helium leaks during ascent, nasa decided to bring the astronauts back using SpaceX's Crew Dragon instead. The astronauts will now have to wait until february 2025 for their return.

During reentry, the Starliner capsule endured temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius), with sonic booms reported as it crossed the night sky. The spacecraft had a smooth landing, which is crucial for Boeing’s reputation and its future certification prospects.

Despite Boeing’s assurances, nasa remained skeptical about the spacecraft’s readiness. Issues during the mission included a critical "breakout burn" to avoid collision risk, a maneuver that would not have been necessary if the crew had been onboard to handle manual control if required.

The Starliner program, which began with high hopes, has faced numerous setbacks. Past problems included a software glitch in 2019, valve issues in 2021, and further delays due to parachute and safety concerns. Boeing and SpaceX were awarded multibillion-dollar contracts over a decade ago to develop spacecraft for ISS missions after the end of the Space Shuttle program. While SpaceX has successfully transported many astronauts since 2020, Starliner has struggled with consistent technical difficulties.
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Sudha Subbiah

08/09/2024 08:16 PM