NASA: Troubled Boeing Starliner to Return to Earth Without Stranded Astronauts
A test flight mission from Florida's Space Coast, initially anticipated to last a week, was undertaken by the pair.
On Saturday, NASA officials declared that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which carried two astronauts to space in June, would return to earth without them.
NASA and Boeing are investigating helium leaks and thruster issues that have left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded in space after their spacecraft docked with the International Space Station.
NASA and Boeing can continue to gather testing data on Starliner during its return flight without endangering the crew, according to NASA officials.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson stated that the decision to retain Butch and Suni on the International Space Station and return Boeing's Starliner without crew was a result of the agency's dedication to safety, which is a core value and a guiding principle.
"Both NASA and Boeing teams deserve my gratitude for their exceptional efforts."
On June 5, the pair launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a week-long test flight mission.
The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, scheduled to launch in September, will have a reduced crew of two to accommodate the return of the stranded astronauts, expected to arrive in February 2025.
The Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to leave the space station and perform a controlled, safe autonomous re-entry and landing in early September. It is equipped to operate independently and has previously completed two uncrewed missions.
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