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Boeing Starliner begins deorbit burn, heading for White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
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NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore bid farewell to Starliner from ISS.
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Successful landing will test Starliner’s heat shield and parachute system.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft is set to return to Earth, marking the end of a challenging journey. The uncrewed spacecraft will initiate its deorbit burn, slowing down enough to allow gravity to pull it back towards Earth. The targeted landing site is the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who will remain on the ISS, expressed confidence in the flight control team handling the capsule’s return. Williams bid farewell to Starliner, saying “It’s time to bring Calypso home. You’ve got this.” The successful landing will test Starliner’s heat shield and parachute system, critical for a soft touchdown.
The Starliner mission faced numerous challenges, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters, leading NASA to decide on an uncrewed return. The astronauts will return on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in February 2025. Watch the live landing and post-landing news conference for updates on this significant event.
