Boeing’s Starliner Returns Safely, But Without Crew, Highlighting Ongoing Challenges

Ademola Akitoye

Boeing's Starliner undocking from ISS

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully returned to Earth uncrewed after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday. Despite prior concerns over thruster malfunctions and helium leaks in the propulsion system, the spacecraft executed a smooth descent, landing in New Mexico at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Saturday.

NASA and Boeing teams were quick to inspect the spacecraft after its parachute-assisted landing, which was considered a success. However, the mission left behind Starliner commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and pilot Sunita Williams aboard the ISS. NASA, citing safety concerns, had opted to keep the astronauts on the station, unwilling to risk their return on the troubled Starliner.

The spacecraft’s issues began earlier in the mission, with five reaction control system thrusters failing and helium leaks emerging. While the Starliner performed well during its return, the propulsion service module, which housed the faulty systems, was jettisoned before reentry and burned up in the atmosphere. As a result, engineers will not be able to directly examine the hardware, leaving them to rely on data analysis and potential redesigns.

Ken Bowersox, NASA’s space operations director, expressed optimism despite the challenges, stating, “NASA looks forward to our continued work with Boeing to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew missions to the ISS.”

This latest test flight adds to a string of setbacks for Boeing, which has faced delays and increased costs with the Starliner project. The company has incurred over $1.5 billion in costs beyond its NASA contract and has struggled to restore its reputation following other high-profile issues, such as the 737 Max crashes and recent troubles with the 777 aircraft.

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NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, who had a similar experience in 2022 when his ISS mission was unexpectedly extended, commented that Wilmore and Williams are handling the delay well. Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, the astronauts will now remain in orbit for more than eight months, returning in February 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Boeing’s engineers had argued that the Starliner was capable of bringing the crew back safely, but NASA was unwilling to take the risk. NASA’s flight operations director, Norm Knight, emphasized the importance of caution, saying, “Spaceflight is hard. The margins are thin. The space environment is not forgiving. And we have to be right.”

The next steps for the Starliner remain uncertain, with further tests and analysis required before the spacecraft can be certified for human spaceflight.

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