Boeing Starliner’s Return to Earth Delayed to June 26
WASHINGTON—Boeing Starliner’s return to Earth from the International Space Station with its first crew of astronauts has been pushed back to June 26, a NASA official said on Tuesday.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were launched aboard Starliner on June 5 and arrived at the ISS following a 24-hour flight. However, the spacecraft encountered four helium leaks and five failures of its 28 maneuvering thrusters during the journey.
This mission is a crucial test for Starliner before NASA can certify it for routine astronaut missions and add a second U.S. crew vehicle alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
The delay in Starliner’s return is to allow the team more time to analyze data and ensure readiness for the journey back to Earth, according to Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager.
The departure is now targeted for no earlier than June 26, with the possibility of further extensions at the ISS. Starliner, designed for future six-month missions, can remain docked to the ISS for a maximum of 45 days during this current mission.
The return to Earth is expected to last about six hours and will target a location in the desert of Utah, New Mexico, or other backup locations, depending on local weather conditions.
Boeing has faced numerous challenges with Starliner in the past, including a 2019 uncrewed test failure and various software glitches and design problems. However, a repeat uncrewed test in 2022 saw a successful docking to the ISS.
