The most awaited Starliner return is happening today. The Boeing Starliner spacecraft is set to leave the International Space Station today and head towards Earth. Boeing Starliner carried two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, to the International Space Station, but they will not be on the return journey to the surface.
From the last 1 to 1.5 months, Starliner return was everyone’s interest topic and ended as a spacecraft returning to Earth without any astronauts. The mission was only for a few days before reaching the International Space Station, but due to some problems, the mission was extended further. Starliner spacecraft was launched on June 05, 2024, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Primarily, the mission was scheduled only for eight days.
When the spacecraft started heading towards the space station, the scientists noticed some problems in the spacecraft. They noticed helium leaks and thruster failures. A total of five helium leaks were detected by the time the spacecraft reached the space station. Because of all such problems, NASA and Boeing extended the duration of this mission.
Scientists and astronauts of NASA and Boeing have tried hard to overcome all these problems, but they have not succeeded. So, for safety reasons, NASA decided Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore would not return on the Starliner. They will come back to Earth on SpaceX Crew Dragon in February 2025.
Starliner return is going to be an uncrewed mission. The undocking is scheduled for 6:04 p.m. EDT today. The spacecraft will automatically leave the space station and head back to Earth, and land at at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. After 6 hours of undocking the spacecraft, it will likely land on Earth.
This decision was not taken lightly. NASA and Boeing engineers conducted thorough tests on the spacecraft. Out of 28 thrusters, 27 were functioning properly. However, bringing astronauts to Earth in on Starliner spacecraft can be dangerous.
Despite all these things, Boeing Company has taken the first step in the race of private space missions. The mission aimed to demonstrate the capabilities of the Starliner in sending crews to the ISS. Despite the setbacks, the mission provided valuable data. This information will be crucial for future missions.
The spacecraft will not be completely empty, but will have some cargo, including empty reusable oxygen tanks, etc. This is a standard procedure for missions returning from the ISS. These cargoes will be checked and used for the future mission.
The Starliner return will be streamed live on NASA’s YouTube channel and other platforms. The livestream will start at 5:45 p.m. EDT, covering the undocking and the landing. This will allow space enthusiasts to witness the event in real-time.
Starliner Return is one of those missions that we should learn. Space doesn’t work according to our abilities, and so many things can go differently. And this mission also shows that scientists are fully prepared to face such problems. They worked tirelessly to ensure the mission’s success, despite the setbacks.
Boeing is a private space company, and it has a lot to learn from this mission. Boeing’s rival company is SpaceX, it is Elon Musk’s company and it is one of the world’s best private space companies that have sent many astronauts to the space station and brought them back safely.
Editor’s Recommendations
- CNRS Study Reveals ‘Secret Life’ Before The Big Bang! Mind-Blowing Discovery
- Saturn Rings Disappear by 2025, Will We Ever See Them Again?
- Asteroid Bennu Older Than the Sun and a Carrier of Life’s Building Blocks and Water on Earth
- NASA’s Europa Clipper Spacecraft Prepares for Historic Launch, A New Chapter in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
