The Starliner returns to Earth safely despite the significant challenges of the mission. Boeing’s spacecraft made an unmanned return voyage to Earth. The astronaut crew was left on the International Space Station (ISS). This marked the latest development in a mission plagued by technical problems.
The spacecraft, which had been docked at the ISS, successfully undocked late Friday, only to return without the astronauts it carried into space.
Safety concerns prompted this uncrewed return, extending what was originally planned as an eight-day mission into an unexpected eight-month ordeal.
Starliner Returns to Earth Safely
The Starliner capsule landed safely at its designated site at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Boeing confirmed the landing in a statement, noting that the spacecraft touched down just after midnight Eastern time at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range.
“I want to recognize the work the Starliner teams did to ensure a successful and safe undocking, deorbit, re-entry, and landing,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program. “We will review the data and determine the next steps for the program.”
