Thank you all for being here with us at this very late hour and for your interest in the undocking of the Starliner from the International Space Station and its successful landing. The Boeing team executed a fantastic job with the operations this evening, making several changes to the plan in short order to ensure a smooth mission. The departure sequence for the crewed Starliner mission differed significantly from the uncrewed mission, showcasing the team's adaptability and expertise.
After docking from the Harmony or Node 2 forward port, Starliner backed away and executed a series of breakout burns, moving up over and behind the ISS. The crew observed the spacecraft until it was out of view and then witnessed its re-entry and de-orbit, capturing remarkable views of the Starliner streaking through the atmosphere using station video cameras.
The upcoming month aboard the ISS promises to be busy, with the Soyuz crew exchange scheduled for next week, bringing NASA astronaut Don Pettit to the station on the 73 Soyuz and returning astronaut Tracy Dyson on the 72S Soyuz. Additionally, Crew 9 will be launched at the end of the month, facilitating a handover between Crew 8 and Crew 9 before bringing the Crew 8 vehicle home.
The team's dedication and hard work over the summer, especially during the months Starliner was on board the station, were instrumental in the safe return of the vehicle. While there are lessons to be learned from this mission, the team is well-equipped to address any challenges and prepare for future Starliner missions.
Reflecting on the arc of the Commercial Crew Program over the past decade, NASA acknowledges the delays and challenges faced by both Boeing and SpaceX. Despite the slower progress than anticipated, the program has successfully fielded two crew transportation systems, Dragon and Starliner, along with cargo vehicles like Dragon and Cygnus. The collaborative nature of the program has enabled sharing of expertise and lessons learned across commercial spaceflight companies, contributing to the advancement of human spaceflight.
