Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has successfully returned to Earth, but the astronauts it was meant to bring back remain aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The empty capsule, operating autonomously, undocked from the ISS and completed its six-hour journey, landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. However, technical issues during the mission led to NASA deciding it was too risky to use the Starliner to return astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth. Instead, they will return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon in February, extending their stay on the ISS from eight days to eight months.

The Starliner faced multiple challenges following its June 5 launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft suffered from helium leaks, which are crucial for pushing fuel into the propulsion system, and some thrusters malfunctioned. Despite months of analysis by Boeing and NASA engineers, these problems remained unresolved. By late August, NASA deemed the Starliner unsafe for astronaut return, despite Boeing’s insistence that the spacecraft could still bring the crew home.

Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager, acknowledged the tension between Boeing and NASA during the decision-making process. Ultimately, NASA chose to prioritize safety, leading to the delay. SpaceX's next launch, scheduled for late September, will send a vehicle with only two astronauts instead of the planned four, allowing Wilmore and Williams to return with it in February.

In the meantime, the astronauts are adjusting well to their extended mission, supported by regular exercise and resupply missions. They now have all necessary gear for the remainder of their stay, including specific clothing and personal items delivered in a July resupply.

The Starliner’s issues have been a setback for Boeing, already dealing with financial losses and reputational challenges following previous in-flight incidents and two fatal accidents in recent years. Despite these problems, NASA remains committed to Boeing’s spacecraft. A trouble-free landing is seen as crucial for the company, with NASA planning to conduct a thorough post-flight analysis over the coming months.

NASA's long-term goal is to have two American companies providing crew transportation to space, avoiding sole reliance on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, which the U.S. had used after retiring its shuttle fleet in 2011. While SpaceX has completed nine successful crewed flights, this was Boeing’s first attempt at a crewed mission, following previous uncrewed flights in 2019 and 2022 that also encountered technical difficulties. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson remains confident that Boeing’s Starliner will eventually fly with a crew again.