World

Watch: Boeing’s Starliner Back On Earth Without Its Astronauts On Board

Boeing’s Starliner is finally back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) without its passengers on board- Sunita Williams and Barry E. Wilmore.

At a local time of 0401 GMT (9:30 a.m.), the capsule, with its distinctive gumdrop shape, landed smoothly at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.

The Starliner capsule touched down softly, having endured high temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius) during atmospheric reentry. Ground teams reported sonic booms as the capsule re-entered the atmosphere at high speed.

Later, after undocking, Starliner performed a critical “breakout burn” to avoid collision risks with the ISS. The mission team then conducted thorough checks of the capsule’s thrusters in preparation for the essential “deorbit burn” needed for a precise reentry path.

Also Read: SpaceX To Rescue Astronauts As Boeing And NASA Clash Over Starliner Issues

Moreover, its descent was controlled by parachutes and cushioned by airbags. It departed from the ISS about six hours earlier.

Meanwhile, Starliner faced setbacks due to thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. As a result, NASA decided to bring its astronauts (Sunita William & Barry Wilmore) home via SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Must Read: NASA Selects SpaceX To Return Stranded Astronauts From ISS After Boeing’s Starliner Faces Technical Setbacks

Astronauts’ return is now scheduled for February 2025.

Dikshaa Puri

Recent Posts

PV Sindhu Ties The Knot With Venkata Datta Sai In Udaipur: Exclusive Details And Viral Photos Revealed

PV Sindhu married Venkata Datta Sai in a traditional ceremony in Udaipur on December 22.…

49 mins ago

PM Modi Distributes 71,000 Appointment Letter Via Video Conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  on Monday distributed over 71,000 appointment letters to newly appointed government…

49 mins ago

TTD Vision 2047: Big Changes Coming To Tirumala With Smart Roads And AI Chatbots – KNOW HERE!

TTD’s Vision 2047 aims to transform Tirumala into a model pilgrimage hub, focusing on smart…

1 hour ago

BJP Releases ‘Aarop Patra’ Against AAP Govt, Highlights 10 Key Issues

BJP slams AAP over corruption, pollution, and mismanagement in a new chargesheet, while AAP launches…

1 hour ago

Who Is Daniel Duggan? Ex Fighter Pilot Accused Of Training Chinese Military To Be Extradited To US

Australia's Attorney General has confirmed that Daniel Duggan, a former US Marine accused of training…

2 hours ago

Hyderabad Court Grants Bail To 6 Accused In Vandalism At Allu Arjun’s House

Six individuals who allegedly damaged actor Allu Arjun's residence in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills were granted…

2 hours ago