Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft landed uncrewed at White Sands Space Harbour in New Mexico late Friday, concluding a challenging three-month test mission marred by technical issues. The spacecraft had earlier departed from the International Space Station (ISS) without astronauts, following NASA’s decision due to safety concerns.
The mission faced significant setbacks, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks encountered during its June ascent. Consequently, NASA decided to send the astronauts back on a SpaceX Crew Dragon next year.
“It’s time to bring Calypso home,” astronaut Suni Williams said, referring to the spacecraft by its nickname. Despite Boeing’s assurances, NASA chose not to risk sending astronauts Butch Wilmore and Williams back on Starliner, opting instead for SpaceX in February 2025.
Starliner’s landing proceeded smoothly, according to a NASA live stream. The spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of approximately 27,400 km/h, deploying parachutes and airbags to ensure a safe touchdown in the New Mexico desert.
Although Boeing conducted extensive ground tests to address the spacecraft’s earlier issues, NASA remained unconvinced of its reliability for crewed flights. The astronauts, who were expected to remain on the ISS for about a week, will now extend their stay to eight months.
Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme manager, noted that while Boeing had predictive models for thruster degradation, NASA’s team remained wary due to uncertainties in the data.
After undocking, Starliner performed a critical “breakout burn” to avoid collision risks and underwent thorough checks before its deorbit burn. Despite two successful uncrewed tests previously, NASA will conduct a detailed review before determining future steps.
NASA, having awarded Boeing and SpaceX contracts a decade ago to develop spacecraft for ISS missions, has seen SpaceX succeed in launching numerous astronauts since 2020. Boeing’s continued challenges highlight the competitive landscape of commercial spaceflight.
