Washington: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finalized preparations for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft’s unmanned return to Earth, concluding a complex test mission.
The pair sealed the Starliner’s hatch late on Thursday, preparing for its Friday departure from the International Space Station (ISS).
Williams and Wilmore, in a meticulously planned procedure, removed the crew seats from Starliner to maximize cargo storage space. This alteration permits a more effective arrangement of materials for return to Earth.
They performed an exhaustive photographic survey and inspection of the spacecraft’s cabin to ensure readiness for the upcoming departure.
The Starliner is set to undock from the ISS’s Harmony module at 3:34 am IST on Saturday. It will then commence a six-hour trip, ending with a landing at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
This unmanned return flight is pivotal for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, offering essential data on the Starliner’s reentry and landing performance. Despite this, the mission has faced technical difficulties, such as helium leaks and thruster issues, prompting the decision to return the spacecraft without its crew.
Williams and Wilmore, initially slated to return on the Starliner, will stay on the ISS until February 2025, with plans to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The Starliner’s descent will be under strict surveillance, adhering to rigorous safety measures. As the first American capsule designed for land-based recovery, it allows for quicker cargo retrieval and aids in spacecraft refurbishment.
Despite these challenges, NASA and Boeing are dedicated to the Starliner program. The spacecraft’s successful return will lead to a comprehensive inspection and analysis of the problems experienced during this test mission.
