The Boeing Starliner space capsule has ended its journey in space and returned to Earth, but the two astronauts it left with were not on board. They remained on the International Space Station, according to the BBC.
The Boeing Starliner has returned to Earth. NASA PHOTO (Archive)
Starliner encountered technical problems after it was launched with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on board. Thus, NASA deemed the capsule to be insufficiently safe to carry the astronauts home.
They are due to return aboard a Space X Crew Dragon, but not before February. Thus, the eight-day stay on the International Space Station turned into eight months.
After the return of the Starliner capsule, a NASA spokesman said he was pleased with the successful landing but wished everything had gone as planned.
The return journey took six hours. After re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, parachutes were used to slow its descent at the White Sands Spaceport in New Mexico on Saturday.
“I now understand the importance of moving on”
According to NASA, the two astronauts are in good spirits and speak regularly with their families.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s commercial crew program, said the two astronauts are very dedicated to their work.
“They now understand the importance of moving on and…getting the vehicle back safely“.
It was the first test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft with astronauts on board. However, the capsule ran into trouble shortly after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5.
It was leaking helium, which pushes fuel into the propulsion system, and several of its thrusters malfunctioned.
Engineers at Boeing and NASA spent months trying to understand the technical problems, but in late August, the US space agency decided that the Starliner was not safe enough to bring astronauts home.
The plan to use rival company SpaceX brought with it a significant delay in the return of the astronauts. The extra time is needed so that SpaceX can launch its next vehicle, which is scheduled to launch in late September.
It was supposed to have four astronauts on board, but instead will travel with two. There is enough room left for Butch and Suni to join them on the vehicle that will return to Earth at the end of its planned stay next February.
Undoubtedly, the Starliner’s problems have been a big blow to Boeing, which is facing financial losses as it tries to rebuild its reputation following recent in-flight incidents.
