Expected time for Starliner spacecraft to return to Earth

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on August 30 that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is expected to leave the International Space Station (ISS) and return to Earth next week without astronauts on board.

As planned, this unmanned spacecraft will automatically separate from the ISS to return home and will land at White Sands Spaceport in New Mexico around September 7 (Eastern US time), marking the completion of the test flight.

On June 6, the Starliner spacecraft carried two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to the ISS. This was the spacecraft's first manned flight.

However, as Starliner approached the orbiting laboratory, NASA and Boeing discovered the spacecraft was leaking helium and experiencing problems with its thrusters.

For the safety of the astronauts, NASA has decided that Starliner will return to Earth without a crew. Astronauts Wilmore and Williams will remain on the ISS and return in February 2025 on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members from NASA’s Crew-9 mission.

According to Thanh Phuong/VNA

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/du-kien-thoi-diem-tau-vu-tru-starliner-tro-ve-trai-dat/20240903043656139