Boeing’s Starliner Completes ISS Mission: Crucial Data Gathered for Future Spaceflights

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Boeing's Starliner Leaves ISS, Concluding Crew Flight Test

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), marking the end of its crew flight test mission. The spacecraft, which launched on June 5, 2024, carried NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams to the ISS. However, due to technical issues with the spacecraft's thrusters and helium leaks, the astronauts will not return on the Starliner. Instead, they will ride back to Earth on a SpaceX Crew-9 spacecraft in February 2025.

The Starliner's mission was initially planned to last eight days but was extended to gather more data and assess the spacecraft's performance. Despite the challenges, the mission has provided valuable insights into the spacecraft's capabilities and has helped NASA and Boeing to identify areas for improvement.

The undocking process began at 6:04 p.m. EDT on September 6, and the spacecraft is expected to land at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico early Saturday morning. The mission's success is crucial for Boeing's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide a reliable and safe transportation system for astronauts to and from the ISS.

The Starliner's ability to autonomously undock and deorbit demonstrates its capabilities for future uncrewed missions. This technology will be essential for NASA's long-term plans for space exploration, including missions to the Moon and beyond.

The data collected during this mission will be crucial in determining the Starliner's readiness for regular flights to the ISS. NASA's Commercial Crew Program will carefully review the data to ensure that the spacecraft meets the agency's certification requirements.

The successful completion of the crew flight test marks a significant milestone for Boeing and NASA, paving the way for future collaborations in space exploration.

Original Article: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/06/boeing-starliner-leaves-iss-crew-flight-test.html