Boeing Starliner to return to Earth today: Will astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore come back?
Boeing Starliner spacecraft is set to make its journey back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) this Friday. The uncrewed capsule will depart from the ISS, leaving behind its crew members, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who will continue their mission on the orbital outpost.
Despite the spacecraft's earlier technical challenges, both NASA and Boeing express confidence in a successful return, although not confident enough to have the astronauts onboard for this particular trip.
Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager, conveyed optimism during a recent briefing, stating, “We have confidence in the vehicle. It’s been a journey to get here, and we’re excited to have Starliner undock and return”, as quoted in a report by USA Today.
Nevertheless, NASA made the cautious decision to keep the astronauts on the ISS, prioritizing their safety by planning their return on a SpaceX craft next year.
Undocking and Landing Details
The Boeing Starliner is scheduled to undock from the ISS at 6:04 p.m. EDT on Friday. The spacecraft will autonomously navigate away from the ISS and commence its descent toward Earth.
The landing is expected to occur at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico around 12:03 a.m. on Saturday. The descent will be slowed by parachutes, ensuring a safe touchdown in the desert, as per a report by USA Today.
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