Boeing’s Starliner – Photo Credit: Boeing
DEMING – Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft safely returned to New Mexico early Saturday morning, wrapping up an unpiloted mission to the International Space Station. Despite earlier concerns over thruster issues and helium leaks, the Starliner undocked from the station without incident at 6:04 p.m. EDT Friday, executing a crucial deorbit burn at 11:17 p.m.
The spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere 400,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, streaking across the skies of Baja California and northern Mexico before landing at New Mexico’s White Sands Space Harbor at 12:01 a.m. EDT. NASA and Boeing recovery teams quickly reached the site for post-landing inspections.
According to a story in Spaceflightnow online magazine, Meanwhile, astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams remained aboard the space station after NASA determined the spacecraft was not safe for their return. Despite initial concerns, Starliner performed well during re-entry, with no further issues from the helium leaks and stable thruster operations throughout its descent to New Mexico.