Boeing's Starliner has successfully landed back on Earth after a troubled mission to the International Space Station. The Starliner, part of Boeing's commercial space service for NASA, encountered issues during its mission, including helium leaks and thruster problems that led to a delayed return. The astronauts who were supposed to return on Starliner, Sonny Williams and Butch Wilmore, will now return to Earth on a SpaceX flight in February.
Former NASA astronaut and professor of astronautical engineering at the University of Southern California, Garrett Wiesman, commented on the successful reentry, stating that while the landing went well as expected, the decision to delay the return of the astronauts was the right one, despite the astronauts likely being safe for the journey.
Wiesman highlighted the importance of understanding and mitigating risks in space missions, emphasizing that the full extent of the risks involved was not entirely clear during the Starliner mission. The successful landing of Starliner serves as a validation for Boeing's managers and engineers who deemed the risks acceptable, but the decision to prioritize astronaut safety by delaying the return was a prudent one.
The NASA press conference following the Starliner's return is expected to provide further insights into the mission and the decision-making process surrounding the delayed return of the astronauts. Stay tuned for more updates as NASA addresses the successful landing and the future plans for the Starliner project.
