Boeing Starliner Returns Empty Amid Technical Issues, Reinforcing NASA’s Concerns

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, originally intended to carry astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams back to Earth, landed this weekend without its crew after experiencing multiple technical issues. The capsule’s return comes nearly three months later than scheduled, reinforcing NASA’s decision to leave the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) and opt for a safer return via SpaceX next year.

The return was far from smooth, as the Starliner faced significant problems during its descent. Although NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, called it a “bullseye landing,” he acknowledged further complications. A new thruster failed during reentry, and there was a temporary blackout of the spacecraft’s guidance system.

NASA initially discovered issues with Starliner during its June docking with the ISS when five out of 28 thrusters malfunctioned due to overheating. These problems, combined with concerns over the craft’s ability to withstand reentry, led the agency to cancel plans to use Starliner to bring the astronauts home.

Boeing’s absence from the post-landing press conference raised further concerns about the company’s collaboration with NASA. NASA officials, including Jim Free, openly discussed their differing views from Boeing, noting the uncertainty surrounding Starliner’s safety.

Originally slated for further missions, the future of Boeing’s partnership with NASA remains uncertain as both sides continue to evaluate Starliner’s performance ahead of the next tentative launch in August 2025.