NASA and Boeing have successfully returned the uncrewed Starliner spacecraft to Earth, concluding a three-month flight test to the International Space Station. The spacecraft landed safely at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on September 6 at 10:01 p.m. MDT.
Boeing Starliner crew capsule after landing at White Sands, New Mexico , Sept. 7. Image Credit: Boeing
However, the mission was not without its challenges. On June 6, as Starliner approached the space station, NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and experienced issues with the spacecraft's reaction control thrusters. The thruster problems led to uncertainty about the spacecraft's ability to safely return astronauts to Earth, prompting NASA to decide to bring back Starliner without its crew.
Despite the issues, NASA and Boeing learned a significant amount about Starliner in the extreme environment of space. The agency will review all mission-related data to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the space station.
The Starliner spacecraft experienced two main issues during the mission: helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. The helium leaks occurred in the spacecraft's propulsion system, causing concerns about the spacecraft's ability to maintain pressure. The thruster malfunctions affected the
spacecraft's ability to maneuver and maintain its orbit.
Thermal Camera view of boeing Starliner decending after re-entry Credit: NASA
During the reentry and descent, two RCS thrusters got hotter than expected, but did not fail. Additionally, one of 12 separate thrusters on the crew module did not work in tests before reentry. However, a redundant thruster operated normally and did not pose a problem during reentry.
The successful landing marks a crucial step in NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station and low Earth orbit.
Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft will now ship to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for inspection and processing. The company has recorded $1.6 billion in charges against the Starliner program so far, a figure expected to increase significantly to account for work needed after this mission.
The first operational Starliner mission, called Starliner-1, has been delayed from February 2025 to no earlier than August 2025. NASA and Boeing will focus on fixing the helium leaks and thruster problems that marred the mission before proceeding with the next steps.
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