Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully returned home after a tumultuous summer, landing at New Mexico’s White Sands Space Harbor. The capsule, which had launched with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in June, spent months parked at the International Space Station due to thruster and helium issues. Despite a smooth return journey, NASA opted to use SpaceX for the astronauts’ return flight due to safety concerns.
The successful return of Starliner raised questions about the spacecraft’s ability to safely transport astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit. Boeing’s Starliner program has faced significant setbacks, including being over budget and behind schedule. An uncrewed test flight to the space station also encountered issues, leading to a repeat in 2022.
With Wilmore and Williams remaining at the space station until February, the drama surrounding Starliner continues. The test flight was intended to showcase the spacecraft’s reliability for NASA certification, but technical challenges have hindered progress. The return journey, watched closely by both Boeing and NASA, marked the end of a challenging chapter for the Starliner program, with hopes for future success in transporting astronauts safely to space.
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