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NASA confirmed that Boeing’s Starliner will undock from the International Space Station and return to Earth on Friday evening without astronauts onboard.
Boeing and NASA expressed confidence that Starliner would not encounter any issues before making a planned parachute landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. However, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will remain at the station for another six months, with a planned return via SpaceX craft in February 2025.
According to Space.com, NASA said its decision to return without astronauts was met with some controversy during discussions with Boeing. Steve Stich, NASA’s Program Manager for the Commercial Crew Program, acknowledged during a Wednesday teleconference, "Anytime ... where there's this kind of decision, there is some tension in the room."
