Boeing will fly its empty capsule back to Earth soon. Two NASA astronauts will stay behind
Boeing will attempt to return its problem-plagued capsule from the International Space Station later this week — with empty seats
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing will attempt to return its problem-plagued capsule from the International Space Station later this week — with empty seats.
NASA said Wednesday that everything is on track for the Starliner capsule to undock from the space station Friday evening. The fully automated capsule will aim for a touchdown in New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range six hours later.
NASA's two stuck astronauts who flew up on Starliner will remain behind at the orbiting lab. They'll ride home with SpaceX in February, eight months after launching on what should have been a weeklong test flight. Thruster trouble and helium leaks kept delaying their return until NASA decided that it was too risky for them to accompany Starliner back as originally planned.
“It’s been a journey to get here and we’re excited to have Starliner return," said NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich.
