Expected date for the Starliner spacecraft's return to Earth.

The U.S. 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 any astronauts on board.

According to the plan, this unmanned spacecraft will automatically detach from the ISS to return home and will land at White Sands Spaceport in New Mexico around September 7th (Eastern Time), marking the completion of the test flight.

On its flight on June 6th, the Starliner spacecraft transported two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to the ISS. This was the spacecraft's first crewed flight.

However, as Starliner approached the orbital laboratory, NASA and Boeing discovered a helium leak and propulsion problems.

For the safety of the astronauts, NASA decided that Starliner would return to Earth without a crew. Astronauts Wilmore and Williams will remain on the ISS and return in February 2025 aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft along with two other crew members on 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