Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft made a successful landing in a New Mexico desert without any astronauts on board. The spacecraft had originally launched in early June with two astronauts, but due to technical issues, they were unable to return to Earth as planned. Instead, the spacecraft landed safely on Friday night, completing the critical final phase of its mission.
The Journey to Earth
The Starliner re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at orbital speeds of roughly 27,400km/h (17,025mph) before deploying a series of parachutes to slow its descent. Moments before touching down at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, the spacecraft inflated a set of airbags to cushion its landing. The landing appeared to go smoothly, as shown on a live stream by NASA.
Unfortunately, the two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were supposed to return to Earth in the Starliner, will now remain at the International Space Station (ISS) until February. The decision was made due to thruster failures and helium leaks that occurred during the spacecraft’s journey. As a result, the Starliner carried back only their empty seats, blue spacesuits, and some old station equipment.
Delays and Setbacks
Boeing’s journey to bring astronauts back to Earth was filled with delays and setbacks. After the retirement of NASA’s space shuttles, Boeing and SpaceX were hired by NASA for orbital taxi service. Boeing faced numerous problems during its first test flight in 2019, forcing a repeat of the mission. The repair bill for the issues that arose during the 2022 test flight exceeded $1.5 billion.
The Starliner finally launched on June 5th from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station after two unsuccessful attempts in May and earlier delays due to helium leaks. Despite successful liftoff, the spacecraft continued to face challenges during its journey to the ISS. Two helium leaks were detected as the Starliner approached the station, adding to the safety concerns that had already arisen.
Extended Mission Duration
What was originally planned as an eight-day mission extended to three months due to the technical difficulties encountered by the Starliner. Despite the setbacks, NASA and Boeing officials maintained that the astronauts were not stranded and that the mission was not in jeopardy. Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, reassured the public in a press conference that the astronauts would return home when it was deemed safe to do so.
Overall, the successful landing of the Starliner without astronauts on board marked a significant milestone for Boeing and NASA’s commercial crew program. While the journey was fraught with challenges and delays, the safe return of the spacecraft demonstrates the resilience and perseverance of the teams involved in the mission. As NASA and its commercial partners continue to push the boundaries of space exploration, lessons learned from missions like the Starliner will undoubtedly inform future endeavors in the quest for human spaceflight.
