Starliner Returns to Earth After Three-Month Mission
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has successfully completed its three-month flight test to the International Space Station (ISS) and safely returned to Earth. The uncrewed capsule landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on September 6th, marking the end of a mission that faced significant challenges.
Despite the challenges, NASA officials remain optimistic about the future of the Starliner program. "This was an important test flight for NASA in setting us up for future missions on the Starliner system," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. "There was a lot of valuable learning that will enable our long-term success."
The Starliner spacecraft will now be transported to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for inspection and processing. NASA's Commercial Crew Program requires a crewed test flight before certifying a spacecraft for regular missions to and from the ISS. The agency will thoroughly review the data from this mission to determine the next steps for Starliner.
The Commercial Crew Program aims to develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to low Earth orbit, enabling expanded research opportunities on the ISS and supporting NASA's goals for future lunar and Martian exploration.