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Space

Boeing’s beleaguered Starliner capsule leaves space station, lands back home without astronauts: ‘Good luck’

By
Yvonne Juris
Published Sep. 6, 2024
Updated Sep. 6, 2024, 8:29 p.m. ET

Boeing’s beleaguered new astronaut capsule left the International Space Station and landed back on Earth Friday — notably without its crew due to concerns for their safety.

The Starliner capsule undocked, leaving NASA’s two test pilots behind on the ISS — their home until next year.

The return flight took six hours, with the Starliner parachuting into the New Mexico desert.

“Bring her back to Earth,” astronaut Suni Williams told Boeing’s Mission Control before the spacecraft departed.

“Good luck.”

NASA and Boeing welcomed Starliner back to Earth at 10:01 p.m. MDT on Friday night.
NASA and Boeing welcomed Starliner back to Earth at 10:01 p.m. MDT on Friday night.
The spacecraft landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
The spacecraft landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.

Williams and Butch Wilmore were scheduled to fly back to Earth in June, a week after launching. But what was meant to be an eight-day mission will turn into eight months, setting the record for the longest spaceflight by an American, due to thruster failures and a radiator leak caused by a meteorite or space junk hitting the Russian spacecraft.

NASA ultimately decided it was too risky to have the pair return on the Starliner.

The fully automated capsule left with their empty seats, blue spacesuits and some old station equipment. SpaceX will bring the duo back in late February.

Boeing and NASA teams examined the spacecraft after it landed with no crew in New Mexico.
Boeing and NASA teams examined the spacecraft after it landed with no crew in New Mexico. Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images
Teams on the ground are preparing to transport Starliner back to Florida for analysis and refurbishment.
Teams on the ground are preparing to transport Starliner back to Florida for analysis and refurbishment. Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images

Boeing’s first astronaut flight caps a drama-filled saga.

After space shuttles retired more than a decade ago, NASA tapped Boeing and SpaceX for orbital taxi service.

Boeing ran into myriad problems on its first test flight with no one aboard in 2019 and it had to repeat it. The 2022 do-over uncovered even more flaws, and the repair bill topped a whopping $1 billion.

Williams and Butch Wilmore should have flown Starliner back to Earth in June, a week after launching in it. But thruster failures and helium leaks marred their ride to the space station.
Williams and Butch Wilmore should have flown Starliner back to Earth in June, a week after launching in it, but thruster failures and helium leaks marred their ride to the space station.
The astronauts will now remain in space until 2025. AFP via Getty Images
This undated handout picture from Nasa released on July 2, 2024 shows NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts (from top) Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
SpaceX plans to bring the astronauts back home in February 2025. NASA/AFP via Getty Images

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams inspect safety hardware aboard the International Space Station on Aug. 9, 2024.
The astronauts have kept themselves busy in space, helping with repairs and experiments that are needed. AP
Astronaut Suni Williams uses a HAM radio and talks to students.
Prior to the launch on June 5, the Starliner was having issues as its propulsion system was leaking helium. NASA Johnson/Flickr

This screengrab from NASA shows astronaut Suni Williams (seated L) and Butch Wilmore (seated R) posing with the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) after the docking of the Boeing Starliner on June 6, 2024.
Engineers believe the cause for these issues is that the more the thrusters are fired, the hotter they get, which can cause the seals to swell and obstruct the flow of propellant. NASA/AFP via Getty Images

Prior to Williams and Wilmore’s June 5 launch, Starliner’s propulsion system was leaking helium. The leak was small and thought to be isolated, but then four more cropped up after liftoff, after which five thrusters failed.

Although four of the thrusters were recovered, the malfunctions concerned NASA and made them wary about the capsule’s descent from orbit. 

Boeing conducted numerous thruster tests on the ground and in space over the summer and was convinced the spacecraft could bring Wilmore and Williams home safely.

But NASA disagreed, opting instead for SpaceX.

Williams and Wilmore, veteran astronauts and retired Navy captains, are keeping busy during their unexpected extended ISS stay, assisting the seven others on board with experiments and repairs

With Post wires