Boeing Starliner Returns Without NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore | VIDEO

Washington: Boeing's damaged Starliner capsule on Saturday (Sept 7) landed successfully at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 12:01 am ET (9:31 pm IST), NASA said in a post. post also mentioned that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to return to Earth in February next year.

"Touchdown, #Starliner! uncrewed spacecraft landed at New Mexico's White Sands Space Harbor at 12:01 am ET (0401 UTC) on Saturday, Sept. 7," post re. 

capsule took six hours to complete its journey. spacecraft h to make its way back home without astronauts after it suffered technical glitches including helium leaks.
 

This comes after months of turmoil over its safety. Since thruster failures and helium leaks marred ir ride to space station, NASA decided that it was too risky for astronauts to return to Starliner.

So, fully automated capsule left empty seats with some blue spacesuits and or old station equipment.

In latest developments, Elon Musk's Space X will bring duo back in February, stretching ir eight-day mission to eight more months.

As veteran astronauts and retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams anticipated hurdles on test flight. y've kept busy in space, helping with repairs and experiments. two are now full-time station crew members along with seven ors on board.

Even before pair launched on June 5, Starliner's propulsion system was leaking helium. leak was small and thought to be isolated, but four more cropped up after liftoff. n five thrusters failed. Although four of thrusters were recovered, it gave NASA pause as to wher more malfunctions might hamper capsule's descent from orbit.

Boeing conducted numerous thruster tests in space and on ground over summer and was convinced its spacecraft could safely bring Wilmore and Williams home. But NASA disagreed and opted for SpaceX.

NASA's commercial crew programme manager Steve Stich said earlier this week that teams have been so focused on Starliner's return that y've h no time to think about what's next for Boeing. He said space agency remains committed to having two competing U.S. companies transporting astronauts.

(Inputs from AP)