Boeing’s Starliner Returns to Earth Without Astronauts
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which left the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, received the final ‘go’ for its return to Earth. However, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore stayed behind on the ISS.
Starliner’s Journey
The uncrewed Starliner, nicknamed ‘Calypso,’ undocked from the ISS at 6:04 pm Eastern Time and is set to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. The landing phase will take 44 minutes from deorbit burn to landing.
Challenges Faced
Starliner faced thruster problems and helium leaks, which delayed its return. NASA and Boeing officials decided to keep the spacecraft attached to the ISS to understand these issues better.
Safety Measures
For the safety of the astronauts, NASA announced that Starliner would return to Earth without a crew. Both Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are safe aboard the ISS, with a SpaceX Dragon vehicle available in case of an emergency.
Importance of the Mission
The safe return of the uncrewed Starliner is vital for Boeing’s space program. After the US retired its space shuttle fleet in 2011, NASA awarded contracts to Boeing and SpaceX to provide commercial spaceflights. While SpaceX has already sent nine crewed flights to space, this was Boeing’s first crewed flight.
Doubts Revealed
Sunita Williams -: Sunita Williams is an astronaut from NASA. She has been to space multiple times and has even set records for spacewalks.
Butch Wilmore -: Butch Wilmore is another astronaut from NASA. His real name is Barry Wilmore, but people call him ‘Butch’ as a nickname.
ISS -: ISS stands for International Space Station. It is a big spacecraft where astronauts live and work, and it orbits around the Earth.
Boeing -: Boeing is a company that makes airplanes and spacecraft. They are working with NASA to help send astronauts to space.
Starliner -: Starliner is a spacecraft made by Boeing. It is designed to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Calypso -: Calypso is the nickname given to this particular Starliner spacecraft. Sometimes, spacecraft are given special names.
White Sands Space Harbor -: White Sands Space Harbor is a place in New Mexico, USA, where spacecraft can land safely when they return from space.
NASA -: NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is the part of the US government that is responsible for space exploration and science.
Commercial spaceflights -: Commercial spaceflights are trips to space that are run by private companies, like Boeing, instead of the government. They can carry astronauts or even regular people in the future.