The return journey of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station was closely watched following thruster issues that arose during its mission. The test flight was meant to demonstrate the spacecraft’s ability to ferry astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit, but the thruster problems added to the setbacks the program had already faced. Despite these challenges, Boeing and NASA are working together on modifications to Starliner’s thrusters to ensure a successful future mission.
During the return journey, flight controllers modified the undocking process to account for potential malfunctions. After detaching from the space station, Starliner autonomously flew away to protect the station in case of a problem. The spacecraft’s engines fired a de-orbit burn to slow it down and send it through Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a smooth return to Earth.
Boeing developed Starliner under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, aiming to fill the gap left by the retired space shuttles with privately built space vehicles. SpaceX, another company in the program, has been routinely conducting flights to and from the space station since 2020 with its Crew Dragon spacecraft. The cooperation between NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX demonstrates the progress made in advancing private space travel.
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