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Enlarge / Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is positioned atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, preparing for its launch in June to commence the Crew Flight Test. (credit: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images)
Starliner’s Journey Post-Test Flight Challenges
Nasa is gearing up for the return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS) following a test flight marred by thruster malfunctions and helium leakage issues. This development raises concerns about the future of the entire Starliner initiative.
Astronauts Prepare for Departure
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set to close their mission aboard the Starliner after embarking on their journey on June 5th. The hatch was secured this Thursday, but not quite as they had pictured three months prior — instead of performing this task from within Starliner’s cockpit, they secured it while still inside the ISS at the docking port.
Tentative Undocking and Landing Plans
The plan anticipates that Starliner will undock from ISS at 6:04 PM EDT (22:04 UTC) on Friday. Should everything proceed smoothly, it will initiate a brief firing of its braking rockets at 11:17 PM EDT (03:17 UTC), aiming for a parachute-assisted landing cushioned by airbags at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico around 12:03 AM EDT (04:03 UTC) Saturday.
While this ending brings closure to an arduous testing phase, attention shifts toward assessing whether these challenges will significantly impact future missions or if modifications can restore confidence in Boeing’s capabilities.
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