Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has encountered yet another setback in its mission back to Earth, as technical issues have forced the astronauts it was supposed to carry to remain on the International Space Station. The empty craft, now in autonomous mode, has undocked from the orbiting lab, leaving Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams behind.
The capsule, which faced technical problems after launch, has been deemed too risky to bring the astronauts home. Instead, they will return in a SpaceX Crew Dragon in February, extending their stay on the ISS from eight days to eight months.
Starliner’s journey back to Earth will last six hours, with a landing scheduled at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on Saturday. Despite the challenges, Nasa reports that Butch and Suni are in good spirits and in regular contact with their families.
The decision to use SpaceX for the return trip has caused a significant delay, as the next vehicle launch is scheduled for the end of September. This delay will allow Butch and Suni to join the two astronauts on board for the return journey next February.
The issues with Starliner have been a blow to Boeing, which is working to repair its reputation following recent incidents. Nasa remains committed to Boeing’s spacecraft, as having multiple American companies capable of transporting astronauts to space has been a key goal for the agency.
Despite the setbacks, Nasa administrator Bill Nelson is confident that Starliner will fly with a crew onboard again in the future.
