Starliner Set for Uncrewed Return Amid Safety Precautions

Boeing's Starliner will return to Earth without astronauts after helium leaks and control thruster issues were identified. Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams will stay aboard the ISS and return in 2025 via SpaceX Dragon. The uncrewed Starliner is targeted to land at White Sands, New Mexico.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is slated to detach from the orbiting International Space Station (ISS) on Friday and return to Earth without its astronaut crew, NASA confirmed. The uncrewed spacecraft aims to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on Saturday.

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams launched aboard Starliner on June 5 for its maiden crewed mission, arriving at the ISS on June 6. However, helium leaks and issues with reaction control thrusters were detected as Starliner approached the ISS.

To ensure astronaut safety, NASA announced on August 24 that Starliner would return uncrewed. Wilmore and Williams have completed preparations for Starliner's return by packing cargo and configuring the cabin. The duo safely closed Starliner's hatch on Thursday afternoon, readying it for departure.

Wilmore and Williams will remain aboard the ISS and are scheduled to return in February 2025 aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, alongside two other crew members as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission. "Starliner is set to undock autonomously at approximately 6:04 pm EDT on Friday, September 6, and aim for a landing around 12:03 am on Saturday, September 7," stated NASA.

NASA has contracted SpaceX and Boeing to transport U.S.-launched astronauts to the ISS. Consequently, the upcoming Crew-9 Dragon mission will launch with only two astronauts to accommodate Wilmore and Williams.

(With inputs from agencies.)