Boeing's Starliner returns to Earth without crew

NASA's Boeing Starliner spacecraft has returned safely without crew, landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, after a three-month flight test to the International Space Station.

"I am extremely proud of the work our collective team put into this entire flight test, and we are pleased to see Starliner’s safe return," Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said. 

He said even though it was necessary to return the spacecraft without its crew, the agency learned an "incredible amount" about Starliner. 

"NASA looks forward to our continued work with the Boeing team to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the space station," Bowersox said.

The flight that took off on June 5 was the first time astronauts launched aboard the Starliner. 

It was the spacecraft's third orbital flight and second return from the orbiting laboratory, NASA said. 

"We are excited to have Starliner home safely. This was an important test flight for NASA in setting us up for future missions on the Starliner system," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. 

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Indian-origin Sunita Williams were in the flight launched on June 5 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. 

The next day, as Starliner approached the space station, the agency identified helium leaks and experienced issues with the spacecraft's reaction control thrusters. 

After several in-space and ground tests, NASA decided to bring Starliner back without its crew. 

Wilmore and Williams will continue their work aboard the station and will return in February 2025 with the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

Image Source: NASA