The attempt to bring back Starliner has finally happened after more than three months since it docked to the International Space Station for its debut crewed test flight. Boeing and NASA's mission to undock and have the Starliner return to the planet was green-lit only a few weeks back, a feat which was long awaited by the company.
Boeing Starliner's return to the planet took place the day after, making its anticipated landing in New Mexico this Saturday, September 7.
Boeing Starliner Has Returned to the Planet After 3 Months
NASA
NASA announced in its blog post that the Starliner is now here on the planet, making its much-awaited landing on the planet after more than three months docked to the space station.
The Starliner officially landed on White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 12:01 AM (EDT), as scheduled.
As a reusable spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner made its landing on the ground, and there were no complications on the mission as it safely touched down on the planet.
That being said, Starliner's crew remains in the ISS, with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams made to stay in the space station until February 2025. Come next year, both astronauts will return to the planet aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
Here's What Happened to Boeing and NASA's Starliner Return Mission
Boeing's Starliner is a reusable spacecraft that was meant to land on the planet and not target the ocean to be collected afterward.
NASA shared that Starliner's return saw its base heat shields detach from its body to deploy the nitrogen-filled airbags that will help cushion its fall. Additionally, parachutes helped in its descent.
Boeing's Massive Delays on Starliner
Boeing's development of the Starliner has been a decade in the making, with its first conception starting in 2014, and it was only ready for flight by 2024. However, in 2024 alone, Boeing and NASA had to adjust the first crewed launch of the Starliner, only being able to proceed last June.
The problems did not stop there as on its way to the ISS, Starliner manifested helium leaks which has been a possible reason for it not to be permitted to dock. However, astronauts Wilmore and Williams' efforts helped in the manual operation of the Starliner and led to its successful docking.
Starliner saw June, July, and August pass through as Boeing and NASA analyzed its situation and steps to take for the spacecraft's fated return to the planet.
After the months-long brainstorming sessions, NASA and Boeing decided to continue with the mission but this time, it would not have the astronauts join the return.
The uncrewed return flight of Starliner will take place this Saturday, beginning with the undocking process and its trajectory towards the planet, inviting the world to witness this fated return via NASA's stream.
