Fri Sep 13 11:47:59 UTC 2024: ## Boeing’s Starliner Returns to Earth Empty, Raising Questions About Its Future
**White Sands, New Mexico:** Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, originally slated to carry astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth, returned to the planet on Saturday morning, landing safely at White Sands Space. The capsule’s return was met with a mixture of relief and disappointment, as it had been deemed unfit for a crewed return due to a series of malfunctions.
The mission, launched on June 5th, was initially intended to be an eight-day trip, but was ultimately cut short when issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters and helium leaks arose. NASA prioritised the safety of the astronauts and opted to send them home aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in 2025.
While NASA officials lauded the “bullseye landing” of the uncrewed Starliner, the descent wasn’t without further hiccups. Another thruster malfunctioned during re-entry, and the capsule experienced a temporary blackout of its guidance system.
Despite the successful landing, NASA officials expressed their disappointment that the mission didn’t unfold as planned. Steve Stich, the agency’s commercial crew program manager, stated, “We wish it would have been the way we had planned it.”
Meanwhile, the future of Boeing’s Starliner program remains uncertain. Ron Epstein, an aerospace and defense analyst at Bank of America, told The New York Times that Boeing’s future in human spaceflight is up in the air. He added that the company might even decide to divest the business due to its history of delays and cost overruns.
This news comes as a blow to Boeing, which has been competing with SpaceX to secure contracts with NASA. However, the successful return of the Starliner does provide valuable data for future development.
Astronauts Williams and Wilmore are expected to participate in a news conference from the International Space Station on September 13th, likely addressing the recent events and their future plans.
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