On September 7th (Vietnam time), the Boeing Starliner spacecraft detached from the International Space Station (ISS), leaving behind two NASA astronauts in an unexpectedly prolonged mission.
According to Reuters, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are still on the ISS with seven other astronauts while the Boeing Starliner heads back without being safe enough to carry them.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft automatically departed the station at 6:04 PM on September 6th Eastern Time, which corresponds to 6:04 AM this morning in Vietnam.
It is expected to take six hours to return to Earth.
Boeing Starliner spacecraft during construction – (Photo: NASA)
The two NASA astronauts had to bid farewell to their spacecraft after propulsion system issues turned their eight-day test mission into at least an eight-month ordeal.
NASA and Boeing have repeatedly reviewed the issues surrounding the Boeing Starliner, ultimately concluding that the spacecraft was not capable of safely returning the astronauts after multiple postponements of the return date.
Five out of the 28 maneuvering thrusters of the Starliner were damaged, forcing the NASA astronauts to struggle during the spacecraft’s approach to the ISS last June. The propulsion system also experienced multiple helium gas leaks.
Since then, Boeing engineers have uploaded new software to the spacecraft, allowing it to return without a crew onboard.
The return journey will be a crucial test of the Starliner’s control capabilities.
The spacecraft will use its maneuvering thrusters to gradually lower its orbit and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around 11:17 AM on September 7th (Vietnam time).
It will then parachute down at 12:03 PM at the White Sands Spaceport, a barren military testing site in New Mexico, USA.
According to a prior announcement from NASA, Mr. Wilmore and Ms. Williams will return to Earth on another SpaceX spacecraft in February 2025. They have also been supplied with additional food and supplies.
