NASA says Boeing’s Starliner will return to Earth uncrewed on Sept. 6

Aug. 30 (UPI) — NASA said Thursday that Boeing’s technically troubled Starliner spacecraft is set to return to Earth next week without stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni WIlliams.

“NASA and Boeing concluded a detailed Delta-Flight Test Readiness Review on Thursday, polling ‘go’ to proceed with undocking of the uncrewed Starliner spacecraft no earlier than 6:04 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 6, from the International Space Station, pending weather and operational readiness,” NASA said in a statement.

NASA said after Starliner undocks, it will take about six hours for it to touch down in the New Mexico landing zone at White Sands Space Harbor.

If all goes to plan Starliner will parachute to Earth about 12:03 a.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 7.

“The uncrewed Starliner spacecraft will perform a fully autonomous return with flight controllers at Starliner Mission Control in Houston and at Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida,” NASA’s statement said. “Teams on the ground are able to remotely command the spacecraft if needed through the necessary maneuvers for a safe undocking, re-entry, and parachute-assisted landing in the southwest United States.”

NASA decided Aug. 24 to return Starliner from the space station uncrewed. SpaceX will bring the astronauts home.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced during a televised news conference, “Butch and Suni will return with Crew-9 next February.”

That mission will begin with two crew members rather than four to make room for the returning astronauts.

Wilmore and Williams have been stuck in space since June. Their mission was supposed to last just one week.

If they return on Feb. 22 as scheduled they will have spent at least 262 total days in orbit.

The Starliner spacecraft program suffered a series of delays and technical issues like helium leaks and propulsion issues with thrusters.

Five thrusters also malfunctioned on approach to the space station as Wilmore and Williams docked.

“We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return,” Boeing said in a statement Aug. 24.