The Boeing Starliner spacecraft successfully landed at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 10:01 p.m. MDT on September 6, 2024, concluding a tumultuous three-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS). However, the capsule returned without its intended crew, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who launched aboard Starliner on June 5.

Mission Challenges and NASA’s Decision

The Starliner’s journey was marred by several technical issues that emerged during its flight to the ISS in early June, including:

• Multiple helium leaks that delayed the crewed test mission even before launch
• Failure of five out of 28 reaction control system (RCS) thrusters en route to the ISS
• Higher-than-expected temperatures in the ‘doghouses’ housing the propulsion equipment, causing Teflon seals to expand and limit propellant flow

Following weeks of in-space and ground testing, NASA ultimately decided it was safer to bring Wilmore and Williams home on a rival SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025, extending their stay on the ISS from eight days to eight months. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, stated, “There was just too much uncertainty in the prediction of the thrusters. If we had a way to accurately predict what the thrusters would do … I think we would have taken a different course of action.”

Starliner’s Autonomous Return

Despite the crew’s absence, the gumdrop-shaped capsule completed a successful autonomous return:

1. Starliner undocked from the ISS at 6:04 p.m. EDT
2. It performed a “breakout burn” to swiftly clear the station and prevent collision risk
3. The capsule aligned itself for reentry, enduring temperatures over 3,000°F
4. Parachutes and airbags deployed to slow the descent and cushion the landing

NASA praised the landing as a “bullseye” and “darn near flawless”, though they acknowledged new issues had come to light, including the failure of a thruster and temporary loss of the guidance system.

Implications for Boeing and NASA

The Starliner program’s struggles have been a significant setback for Boeing, which was awarded a $4.2 billion contract alongside SpaceX in 2014 to develop spacecraft for ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS. While SpaceX has since completed nine crewed missions, Boeing continues to face delays and technical issues, with Starliner’s first crewed test flight falling short of expectations.

NASA has reaffirmed its commitment to Boeing, recognizing the importance of having two American companies capable of transporting astronauts. However, with the ISS set to be decommissioned in 2030, Boeing’s window to prove Starliner’s reliability is narrowing. The company’s reputation and future in crewed spaceflight now hinge on its ability to address the spacecraft’s issues and proceed toward certification for regular crew rotation missions.

Despite the challenges, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed confidence in Boeing, stating he is “100% certain” that Starliner will successfully carry a crew in the future. As NASA and Boeing review mission data and assess the changes required, the aerospace giant’s next steps will be critical in determining its long-term prospects in the commercial crew program and its legacy in space exploration.