An empty Boeing Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth by next week

NASA has finally announced a Boeing Starliner return date and confirmed the spacecraft is ready to undock from the International Space Station.

NASA and Boeing wrapped up the Delta-Flight Test Readiness review on Thursday and permitted an undocking procedure no earlier than 6:04 p.m. EDT on Friday, September 6.

In June, ULA launched Starliner on its maiden human crew flight and successfully docked at the space station. It was meant to return in one week to get certified.

However, the pod was struck with technical issues, and both astronauts Sumi Williams and Butch Wilmore strained on the orbital library for two months.

A few days ago, the space agency made a final call on this matter and announced that these two astronauts would be rescued on a separate mission with SpaceX.

The rocket maker will launch Crew-9 human spaceflight in late September. It was initially planned with four crew members, after this decision, the Dragon spacecraft will vacate two slots for the upcoming astronauts.

Until liftoff, SpaceX and NASA will work together to optimize suits and cargo for both passengers. Once launched, the Dragon spacecraft will remain stationed through February 2025 and return on that date.

Boeing Starliner Spacecraft docked at International Space Station (Source – NASA)

Empty Starliner

After undocking, the Starliner will take around six hours to reach the landing zone at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.

The spacecraft is designed to make an autonomous return with flight controllers at the Starliner mission control in Houston and Boeing mission control in Florida.

The ground team will remotely command the pod for required maneuvers during undocking, re-entry, and parachute-assisted landing in the southwest US.

The spacecraft will touch down at about 12:03 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, and make a landing with parachutes and inflated airbags to cushion the impact.

NASA will reveal more information prior to the final checkup of the Starliner’s system before undocking.

(source)