Unicorn News
September 8, 2024
Unicorn News: The Latest in Space - September 08, 2024
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft has safely returned to Earth after a three-month mission in orbit. Despite minor thruster issues, the mission is considered a success, marking a significant milestone in space travel. NASA and Boeing will now review the data to move toward certification for crewed missions.
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() Boeing Starliner's Uncrewed Return Marks a Milestone in Space Travel
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft successfully returned to Earth on September 7 after a three-month mission in orbit. Launched on June 5 with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the spacecraft landed in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico, despite minor thruster issues during reentry. NASA and Boeing will now analyze the flight data to move toward certifying Starliner for crew rotation missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts will remain on the ISS and return to Earth in February 2025 via a SpaceX Dragon capsule, as NASA has adjusted its crew rotation plans. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, set to launch on September 24, will now carry only two astronauts instead of four.
