NASA's Boeing Starliner to Return Uncrewed from ISS Amid Safety Concerns, Crew Remains Aboard

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to return from the International Space Station (ISS) on September 6. However, it will make the journey unhindered by its expected two-person crew due to safety concerns. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is anticipated to return from the International Space Station (ISS) on September 6, albeit without its intended two-person crew due to safety concerns.

Safety Concerns Prevent Crew Return

The spacecraft will undock from the ISS at approximately 6 p.m. ET, spending around six hours navigating closer to home before making its landing in New Mexico's White Sands Space Harbor around midnight. On June 5, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Starliner to reach the space station. Despite the anticipation for the crew's return, safety considerations led to the decision to proceed with an uncrewed return.

Nasa announced on August 24 that issues related to gas leaks and the propulsion system of the Starliner capsule raised significant concerns, leading the agency to conclude that the spacecraft was not safe for a crewed return. As a result, it was determined that an uncrewed return would be conducted with a fully autonomous process, under the supervision of flight controllers at Starliner Mission Control in Houston and Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida.

The uncrewed Starliner spacecraft will carry out a fully autonomous return, with the capability for ground teams to remotely command it as necessary through the required maneuvers for a safe undocking, re-entry, and parachute-assisted landing in the southwest United States. The performance of the Starliner vehicle during this return trip plays a crucial role in the future of Boeing's overall program.

Financial Implications for Boeing

Any further setbacks or decisions from Nasa regarding the vehicular certification for human spaceflight could have significant financial implications for Boeing, which has already recorded losses totaling approximately $1.5 billion on the Starliner program. Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, expressed the disappointment felt by all involved in the inability to complete the test flight with a crew, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing safety in decision-making.

Future of Crew Return

The astronauts, Williams and Wilmore, will now be returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, with the next anticipated launch no earlier than February. The Crew Dragon spacecraft has been certified for astronaut missions for approximately four years and has successfully conducted around a dozen crewed trips to orbit. Despite the challenges faced by Boeing's Starliner, the reliance on a well-established and proven alternative for crewed space travel signifies a crucial shift in the operational landscape of human spaceflight.