Boeing’s Starliner capsule lands in New Mexico without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams (right). NASA

Boeing’s long-awaited astronaut mission has ended with a dramatic twist. Despite the successful landing of the Starliner capsule in New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range, two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were left behind in the International Space Station (ISS). NASA deemed their return aboard the troubled capsule too risky due to technical malfunctions, leaving the astronauts in space until February 2025. The mission, which began in June 2024, was fraught with issues from the start, including thruster failures and helium leaks. Despite Boeing's insistence that the spacecraft was safe, NASA opted to prioritize safety and delayed the astronauts' return, scheduling their journey back to Earth with SpaceX. This marked a major setback for Boeing, whose Starliner program has faced multiple delays since its inception. Starliner’s automated descent through the New Mexico desert was largely uneventful, but issues persisted, including more thruster malfunctions. NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, praised the landing but stood by the decision to leave the astronauts on the ISS. "We made the right decision. All of us are relieved by the successful landing, but we also wish it could have gone as planned,” Stich said. The mission, originally planned as a week-long test flight, turned into a prolonged ordeal as engineers worked to diagnose and address the Starliner’s technical challenges. The decision to bring Wilmore and Williams back via SpaceX means they will remain part of the ISS crew until early next year, continuing their work on scientific experiments and station maintenance. The Starliner program, which was supposed to compete with SpaceX as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, has been plagued by delays and setbacks. After initial problems in 2019, Boeing conducted a 2022 do-over flight that uncovered additional flaws, contributing to a repair bill exceeding $1 billion. NASA remains committed to supporting Boeing, even as SpaceX continues to dominate the commercial spaceflight sector. The next SpaceX crew launch, set for later this month, will be its 10th mission for NASA, with seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams on their return flight to Earth. The Starliner capsule will now be transported to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for further examination, as Boeing works to address the remaining issues and prepare for its next crewed mission. ICA/Expat Media
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