Boeing’s Starliner Lands Safely on Earth Without Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore

Boeing’s Starliner returned to Earth without astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, as NASA deemed their return "too risky" due to technical malfunctions. The empty capsule landed safely at White Sands Space Harbor, and the astronauts' stay in space has been extended until 2025, when they will return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth on Friday night, completing its first astronaut mission with an empty capsule landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Test pilots Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were initially scheduled to return in the capsule, remain in space following NASA’s decision to deem their return “too risky” due to persistent technical issues.

The Starliner’s landing marked the end of a six-hour journey from the International Space Station (ISS), where the capsule descended autonomously through the darkness of the New Mexico desert, slowed by parachutes and cushioned by airbags. This mission was seen as a crucial test for the Starliner, which aims to be a regular crewed transport vehicle to the ISS.

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However, despite Starliner’s previous success in two uncrewed missions, this manned mission was plagued by technical malfunctions, particularly involving the capsule’s thrusters. These persistent issues, including helium leaks and thruster failures, prompted NASA to extend the astronauts' stay in space and delay their return until 2025. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will now return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of the Starliner.

NASA’s thorough review of the Starliner’s performance will determine the spacecraft’s future, as it plays a significant role in the agency’s crewed spaceflight plans.