Boeing Starliner’s Return To Earth Has Been Delayed

The return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed until at least next week, following a successful launch last week. According to a NASA post on X, the Starliner and its crew are now expected to land in the New Mexico desert no early than Tuesday, June 18, after originally being planned for a short visit.

It was on June 5 that NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore made history by piloting Boeing’s Starliner which was undertaking its first mission with a crew. The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket took off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in eastern Florida at precisely 10:52 AM EDT. Despite having to surmount earlier obstacles which caused delays, the Starliner— referred to as Calypso after Jacques Cousteau’s vessel— managed to make a successful docking at the ISS on June 6.

Starliner’s stay at the space station was initially scheduled for only a week according to NASA’s plans. But the additional days will permit Williams, 58 years old, and Wilmore, 61 years old, to help with a spacewalk that is supposed to take place on Thursday, June 13. Moreover, this extended time in space will result in an all-around assessment of Starliner systems by engineers who can use it as part of their preparation toward NASA approval.

The return of the Starliner and its crew will be facilitated by a parachute-assisted landing planned by NASA and Boeing. This capsule can transport a variety of goods and scientific instruments to and from the International Space Station (ISS) while housing up to four astronauts. The Starliner is carrying about 750 pounds of supplies for this expedition, which includes food, clothes, athletic equipment, medical supplies, media equipment, and vehicle supplies.

To ensure the mission’s success and the spacecraft’s preparedness for upcoming missions, Starliner’s return has been postponed. The astronauts’ mission goals and the technical certifications required for Boeing’s Starliner to become a dependable aircraft for low-Earth orbit flights depend heavily on the extra days spent at the International Space Station.