Boeing Starliner Returns to Earth Unmanned, Crew to Stay in Space Until Next Year

After months of delays and setbacks, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully returned to Earth early Saturday morning, parachuting into New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range. However, the spacecraft returned without the two test pilots, who remain in space until next year due to concerns about the spacecraft's safety.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft touched down on Earth early Saturday morning, completing a mission that began with the launch of two test pilots to the International Space Station (ISS) in June. However, the pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, remained in space due to concerns about the spacecraft's safety.

Boeing Starliner Returns to Earth Unmanned, Crew to Stay in Space Until Next Year

Starliner parachuted into New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range at 12:01 a.m. ET after undocking from the ISS six hours earlier.

"I am extremely proud of the work our collective team put into this entire flight test, and we are pleased to see Starliner’s safe return," Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement.

Boeing Starliner Returns to Earth Unmanned, Crew to Stay in Space Until Next Year

"Even though it was necessary to return the spacecraft uncrewed, NASA and Boeing learned an incredible amount about Starliner in the most extreme environment possible," he added. "NASA looks forward to our continued work with the Boeing team to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the space station."

The return of Starliner comes after a long and troubled mission. The spacecraft was initially launched in June, but it encountered a series of problems, including thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA determined that it was too risky to bring the pilots home on Starliner and instead tapped SpaceX to fly them back to Earth.

Boeing Starliner Returns to Earth Unmanned, Crew to Stay in Space Until Next Year

After receiving new software updates, the fully automated capsule departed from the ISS with the crew's spacesuits and some old station equipment.

Starliner's return concludes a series of delays and setbacks for the spacecraft. After the space shuttles retired more than a decade ago, NASA hired Boeing and SpaceX for orbital taxi service. However, Boeing faced numerous problems on its first test flight without a crew in 2019, so it had to try again. The do-over three years later revealed even more issues, and it cost more than $1 billion to complete the needed repairs.

Boeing Starliner Returns to Earth Unmanned, Crew to Stay in Space Until Next Year

SpaceX's crew ferry flight later this month will be the 10th it has done for NASA since 2020. The Dragon capsule will launch on a six-month expedition with only two astronauts, since two seats are needed to bring Wilmore and Williams back home.

Boeing conducted numerous thruster tests in space and on the ground over the summer, and believed its spacecraft could safely bring the astronauts back. NASA, however, remained skeptical over the thruster issues and tasked SpaceX with their return.

Flight controllers conducted more test firings of the capsule’s thrusters after undocking, with one failing to ignite. Engineers believe the thrusters become hotter the more they are fired, causing protective seals to swell and obstruct the flow of propellant. None of the parts will be able to be examined, as the section holding the thrusters was tossed just before reentry.

NASA still wants to have two competing U.S. companies transporting astronauts into space. NASA hopes SpaceX and Boeing can take turns launching crews until the space station is abandoned in 2030 ahead of its fiery reentry.

"We are excited to have Starliner home safely. This was an important test flight for NASA in setting us up for future missions on the Starliner system," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said in a statement after Starliner returned to Earth. "There was a lot of valuable learning that will enable our long-term success. I want to commend the entire team for their hard work and dedication over the past three months."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.